Time to Stay

Time to stay is a commissioned work for Rubinvägen outside of Stockholm. The work relates to the changing cityscape and population by discussing time, circulation and traces. The work consists in three parts: Then, Now and Soon. The oak is a central element in all three parts. The work was conducted in collaboration with residents in the area and actively involves the residents aswell as the visitors of the area through their everyday movements.

Then is a number of marks after the bigger trees that grew around Rubinvägen before new houses were built in the area. The annual rings after each tree has been sandblasted into the limestone of the new houses’ entrance halls. On new walking paths the circumference of the trees have been marked through carriage bolts hammered into the asphalt.

Now are seating marks in park benches. The residents in the area have contributed to the work by leaving their seating marks. 14 of these have been cut out in oak and made as intarsia into the pinewood benches. The wood of the benches has been impregnated with an organic method which make the wood age naturally.

Soon is a big oak that has been planted in the area. Some big trees were taken down when the new houses in the area were built. I saved oak corns from the area and let them grow to plants. At the inauguration of the work, the residents were invited to make a common planting of 12 of the plants, in order to let a new oak grow in the area. An oak is said to grow for 300 years, live for 300 years and die for 300 years.