Grødegejster, agerånder

21 straw plaitings made from 21 different species of wild grasses collected in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

Vinterresidens for Agersjæle

Poster with a guide for plaiting straw, newspaper print.
39 × 56 cm.

Plaiting or braiding straw has been practiced in Northern Europe as a pre-Christian ritual within agricultural cultures. The braids are rooted in a belief in the spirits of the field, thought to dwell within the straw.
When the grain is harvested and the stalks are cut, the spirits are believed to gather in the last remaining sheaves in the field. These final straws are braided and carefully preserved until spring sowing. Through this ritual, the spirits are returned to the soil, ensuring fertility and a bountiful harvest.


Works exhibited at the soloexhibition Vinterresidens for Agersjæle at Østfold Kunstsenter, Fredrikstad (NO)

2023

Photocredits: Øystein Thorvaldsen