Path-town. Imaginary town – future illusion or past ruin…” 2016, Porcelain (3D-digital and hand-printed), mdf/wood, 120 x 240 x 150 cm
Path-town no.1, 2016, porcelain 25x25x20 cm 
Path-town no.3, 2016, porcelain 40x15x15 cm 
Path-town no.2, 2016, porcelain 25x35x35 cm 
Path-town no.5, 2016, porcelain 20x20x20 cm 
Path-town no.8, 2016, porcelain 40x15x15 cm 
Path-town no.9, 2016, porcelain 40x50x50 cm
Karen Harsbo: Path-Town, 2016-2017
In the series “Path – town” Imaginary city – future illusion or past ruins (2016), a group of crisp, detailed small structures in porcelain are presented, which visually evoke memories of ruinous cities or temple complexes such as ex. Machu Picchu in Colombia or Angkor Wat in Cambodia, but at the same time pointing forward in time: A bid for possible future architectural constructions located on Earth or somewhere else in our galaxy. Harsbo is fascinated by space and space technology, and the inspiration for the series comes from the research such as NASA is conducting in connection with possible settlement on Mars (“Mars One”).
Feeding of the Martians of the future is of course a cardinal point and work is being done, among other things by 3D-printing both food and building materials – which Harsbo has grasped: the 3D– printer’s nozzle with liquid porcelain extrude, thereby building up, layer by layer – like small strings – the mini-buildings, which gives the finished objects a completely unique look. Other parts of Path-town are, so to speak, hand-extruded: Harsbo uses a pipette, and pushes or dips the liquid porcelain mass out layer by layer into the desired shape.
Text by Anne Cathrine Wolsgaard Iversen, Mag.art.
Photos by Ole Akhøj
