A Hooded Bronze Figure Sends Rainbows Wafting Across the River Enz

along a river, a fountain sprays water as a rainbow appears to mimic the arch of water it lets off

All images © Sander van Wettum, shared with permission

A bronze, elf-like figure sits at the edge of the River Enz in Germany, waiting to greet passersby with delightful arcs of color. The mysterious form, installed as part of Ornamenta 2024, was conceived by Veronika Sedlmair and Brynjar Sigurðarson over three years. The Iceland and Germany-based creative duo, a.k.a. Studio Brynjar & Veronika, has been working together for more than a decade, designing and executing pieces inspired by the theatrical and narrative aspects of nature.

“Haug, the Rainbow Fountain” lingers at the fascinating line between myth and the mundane. “In Icelandic folklore, the rainbow is the bridge between humans and elves,” the pair explain. “This led us to create an elf or a water spirit that would be a ‘rainbow maker.’”

The River Enz flows through Pforzheim from west to east, marking the perfect spot for rainbow formation from sunrise to sunset. In a seamless mesh between craft and technological design, delicate folds of fabric cloak the figure’s body, and high-tech sensors inside its head emit bursts of mist. Although the hooded entity can seem a bit eerie on its own, its aura immediately softens as it activates its surroundings, creating both rainbows that stretch across the watery distance and moments of joy for those passing through.

Visit the duo’s website and Instagram for more projects and updates.

along a river, a fountain sprays water as a rainbow appears in front of it

a tall fountain stands next to a river

a tall fountain that resembles a sitting elf-like figure is situated next to a river

along a river, a fountain sprays water as a rainbow appears next to it

a tall fountain that resembles a sitting elf-like figure is situated next to a river as it sprays water out of its head

a woman sculpts an elf-like figure in a studio

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