PILANE, WHERE ART MEETS NATURE
© Johannes Vande Voorde
There is more than enough nature in Sweden. "So why not combine art and nature," the Swedes must have thought, "there's plenty of room anyway."
Pilane is an Iron Age settlement and burial site (dated to 0-600 AD) on the Tjörn peninsula, 40 miles (65 km) north of Gothenburg. The land of the archeological site is rented out as sheep pasture.
In 2007, the first outdoor exhibition was organized here. Since then, a sculpture exhibition has been organized every year, with works by leading artists from all over the world. Every summer a new work of art is added.
Pilane's permanent landmark is Anna, the giant white head created by Jaume Plensa. Other works include international names like Ai Wei Wei and Tony Cragg.
The combination of the archaeological site, sheep, giant sculptures, sea views, cliffs and rugged landscape feel unearthly. What keeps your feet on the ground is the presence of other visitors: children climbing the rocks and families enjoying a picnic.
We have visited Pilane 3 times already and it continues to amaze us. When we have herded the children together -the work of being a sheep herder must be hard sometimes- we always head to Skärhamn, just a 15-minute drive from there. A visit to this charming little harbor town is a nice ending, completing a day of nature and culture. Topped off with ice cream, of course. And then playing Perfect Day by Lou Reed in the car while the kids are already asleep in the back seat....
Visit the Pilane website for more information.
