Green House Sanctuary
Denmark, 2022While living in South Africa during COVID, I turned to gardening to cope
with uncertainty, isolation, and unprocessed emotions. At the place where
I stayed, I found an abandoned green tunnel that reminded me of the long
hours I used to spend in the garden with my grandmother when I was
growing up. For a year, I worked the soil, growing flowers and vegetables.
Gardening became a form of daily therapy and meditation. That green
tunnel became my sanctuary and inspired me to share that experience through the immersive space «Green House Sanctuary.»
This artwork was created on Agersø Island, Denmark, as part of the «Northern Lights» festival. As with all my work, I used locally sourced
materials.
I built Green House Sanctuary from scratch, beginning with an open wooden frame that had been covered in grapevine, which I preserved. Using repurposed windows from the landowner, locally sourced wood for the flooring, and planters made from discarded materials, I constructed an intimate, shrine-like space with four distinct zones, each with a specific purpose and ritual. I selected vintage pieces from Berlin flea markets, planted greenery, and built an altar so that every element contributed to an atmosphere of introspection and transformation.
For one week, the installation was open 24 hours a day, so the most introspective hours, evenings and early mornings were always available.
I. The Door
An old door serves as both entrance and exit. Leave a message to acknowledge what lies in this liminal space: either what no longer serves you, but still lingers, or what you are ready to welcome.II. The Bowl
What holds you back from letting go or inviting something new? Write down the fears you find, recognise them, and burn them.III. The Altar
Place your prayers here. Light a candle. Burn incense. Leave a personal object on the communal altar, or write a message for yourself or someone else.IV. The Pot
From the Door to the Bowl to the Altar, you move from naming and releasing to praying and offering. At the pot, plant seeds of intention. In this greenhouse, everything grows, and everything passes, honouring the cycle of life. The Pot is where a new cycle begins.Materials & Dimensions
Structure: approx. = 350 cm (L) × 300 cm (W ) × 250 cm (H ). The structure is built from antique windows, reclaimed wood, and old doors. Vintage objects, an altar centerpiece - eight hand-hammered brass moons (27 cm each); handmade planters; indoor plants; incense and candles; and a shell chandelier crafted from seashells, brass, and vintage crystals.
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