In Finnish Pagan tradition, a person’s soul is said to have three parts: Henki, Luonto, and Itse. The Luonto is a guardian spirit or protector. Further specifying the term, Luontohaltija translates to nature spirit.
Luontohaltija is a series made with ceramics, bronze, wood, gold glaze, and sound, 2019
Steimer’s practice is based in communing with nature; channeling invisible forces into, in this case, 3-dimentional forms. This installation captures a collection of outdoor spaces around Mänttä, Finland including Taavetinsaari and Koskelanlampi, where the artist sculpted using materials around him. He returned to the studio and built in clay around these organic forms, which burnt away in the kiln to leave behind something closer to non-form.
The sound piece is made in collaboration with artists Jaako Leeve, Shinji Murakami, and Terrence Musekiwa who played Steimer’s sculptures as wind instruments in a barn in Vehkanimen.
kohtalo, 2019, bronze and ceramic, 6.5 × 6 × 5 in | 16.5 × 15 × 13 cm
Sadekuuro, 2019, ceramic and bronze, 8 × 4 × 3 in | 20 × 10 × 8 cm
iku turso, 2019, ceramic and bronze, 14 × 10 × 8 in | 35 × 25 × 20 cm
Synty, 2019, ceramic and bronze, 4 × 3 × 4 in | 10 × 8 × 10 cm
lempeä joki, 2019
ceramic, gold, hand dyed indigo yarn
4 × 7 × 6 in | 10 × 18 × 15 cm