xavier veilhan unveils the vårberg giants, two concrete public sculptures in stockholm

french artist xavier veilhan and his longtime collaborator, scenographer alexis bertrand, have installed a pair of monumental sculptures in two parks in the borough of vårberg, a southwest suburb of stockholm. titled ‘vårbergs jättar’ (the vårberg giants), the site-specific public artworks are made of prefabricated, self-standing blocks of blue concrete. the project, which was commissioned by stockholm konst, marks the city’s largest work of art and its biggest artistic investment to date.image © andreas nur

header image © robin hayes

all © veilhan / ADAGP & bildupphovsrätt, 2020

‘vårbergs jättar’ (the vårberg giants) by xavier veilhan and alexis bertrand was selected as the winning proposal of the vårberg art competition, organised by stockholm konst and the stockholm city executive office in 2018. the two sculptures are now installed in stråkparken and pelousen, two parks in stockholm’s vårberg borough. fully accessible to the public, they can be used in various ways, from a bench, to a table, or a playground.image © andreas nur

pelousens jätte (the pelousen giant) is the largest of the two monumental concrete bodies, measuring 19 meters in length, nine in width, and five in height. the figure of a bearded giant, the sculpture appears as the enlargement of a potential pelousen resident, resting in the park. the artwork comprises 85 prefabricated self-standing blocks of blue concrete, with the color pigmented in the mass.image © andreas nur

located about 100 meters away, stråkparkens jätte (the stråkparken giant) emerges from the middle of a large slope. smaller in size, this female bust appears to be resting her arms on the ground, as if sitting at a table. the sculpture is built by the in-situ assembly of five prefabricated self-standing blue concrete blocks. a concrete ring surrounds her, suggesting the idea of movement and designed as an open stage.

image © naina helén jåma

image © robin hayes

project info:

name: vårbergs jättar (the vårberg giants)

artist: xavier veilhan

conception and scenography: xavier veilhan in collaboration with alexis bertrand

courtesy: andréhn-schiptjenko

development and project management: ITSOK / martin coevoet and andrea ventimiglia

coordination: eloïse bloit

commission: stockholm konst / city of stockholm

3D imagery: vincent germond and martina tapia

landscape design: nivå

structural design: looström

prefabrication and transport: BB beton

installation: herrljunga terrazzo

groundwork and landscaping: Y2