Since 1985, international stone sculptors have been invited every two years to
the quarry of Tjodalyng/Larvik in southern Norway, to work sculptural with the local blue-crystalline Larvikite. The content of the Symposium Norge is based on the original and non-profit
stone sculptor symposium of the 1960s and follows the tradition of offering artists the freedom to work collectively and away from studio- and commercial requirements. A scholarship for
travel, accommodation, as well as the provision of a workplace and Larvikite material is intended to enable free and intensive work. The workplace is located directly in the Larvikite
quarry Stålaker and the artist comes to the stone and encounters industry, nature and new artistic challenges. We have
invited nine international stone sculptors to our next Symposium`24 with a focus on individual artistic positions and cultural exchanges, the opportunity for
dialogue and communal living and
working.
The 21th International Larvikite Sculpture Symposium 2024
In collaboration with the stone industry of Lundhs AS and the Kunstfelt Stålaker, nine sculptors were invited to the International Larvikite Sculpture Symposium`24. The resulting sculptures can be visited at the Stålaker Sculpture Park.
Participants: Yoshiho
Futo\Japan, Ryszard Litwiniuk\Poland, Valerie Funk\ Germany,
Rob Good\Great Britain, Nilhan Sesalan\Turkey,
Simon Te Wheoro\New Zealand, Maša Paunović\Serbia, Martin Kuhn\Germany
Final presentation on the Sculpture Stålaker Park on August, 10th 2024
The Symposium house and the Stålaker quarry
Living and working at the same place and at the origin of the stone. Since 1990, the Symposium House has served the sculptors from all over the world as a meeting place and as accommodation during the symposium. It is located directly at the foot of Lundhs Stålaker quarry and offers short distances to the workplace, as well as a central location between the cities of Larvik and Sandefjord, in the municipality of Vestfold / Norway. Further accommodation is available directly on the quarry site. Workers' huts have been converted into sleeping cabins and are located in the immediate vicinity of the workplace and the Symposium house.
The Larvikite from Larvik
The Larvik district in southern Norway is blessed with the monzonite variety named Larvikite. It was formed during a period of strong volcanic activity about 300 million years ago, cooled off and hardened at depths of 8-9.000 meters. The above lying material has since eroded, bringing the Larvikite to the surface. It contains beautiful blue crystals made of alkali feldspar, which refract the light in such a way, that the resulting play of colors often is called labradorization. This stone is therefore also known as Labrador, because of this optical effect.
Labrador has several varieties, where the background color, the size and the color of the crystals vary. The best known types are Blue Pearl, Emerald Pearl and
Marina Pearl. Common for all are the large shining and glittering bluish crystals. Labrador is mainly utilized for facades of prestige buildings, interior decorations and monuments. The
Larvik district has since the start of quarrying the resource late last century, become a center of Norwegian stone-production with solid craftsmanship and traditions.
Stålaker quarry: Lundhs Marina
This material is extracted from the Stålaker quarry, close to Larvik.
LUNDHS Marina® is characterised by large steel-blue feldspar crystals, and has a homogenous colour.
Stone type: Larvikite (Monzonite)
Origin: Crafted 300 million years ago in Larvik, Norway.