The Giant's Glasses
Exhibit Piece, 2021
A story and exhibit piece for Nääs Slöjd och Byggnadsvård
In 1899, seven-year-old Frida moved to Nääs with her mother, who had accepted a teaching position at the famous craft school. Frida and her mother lived a total of seven years at Nääs, and later in life, Frida described these years as some of the happiest of her life.
Frida's first Midsommar at Nääs, 1900
As one of the only children who lived there, Frida spent many hours by herself, exploring the castle grounds and surrounding forest. It was during this time when Frida met the Giant.
The giant has lived in the forest by Nääs for more than 400 years, but naturally shy and wary of humans, he prefers to stay hidden. Frida is the only known human to have formed a close friendship with him, and the two went on many adventures together.
Craft students relaxing outside Nääs. The Giant can be spotted in the forest behind them.
In 1906, Frida's mother took a new job, taking them away from Nääs. No one has seen the Giant since Frida's departure. After her death in 1980, Frida donated her magic glasses to Nääs, which the giant had built specially for her. Craft historians have worked to restore them to their original condition.
Restoration work for the Giant's Glasses
one eye towards the outside, one eye towards the imagination.
This project explores how objects can be mediators between fact and fiction, between historic environments and imaginary environments.
The left eye piece acts as a giant periscope, which looks out onto the lake outside. The right eye piece is a kaleidoscope, with a mirror at the top that shines back in on itself. The center section of the kaleidoscope rotates so that the user sees different shapes, symbols, and illustrations on its different interior faces.
