That Field Hath Eyen, and the Wood Hath Ears

This diorama is a tribute to the many lives, trades, and choices that shaped my lineage. The knightly character is loosely inspired by a Swedish ancestor from the 1500s, not as a specific individual, but as a guardian of ancestral memory – from wheelwrights, Hugenots and clergy to farmers, fishermen and warriors.

The Armour

The character’s armor was developed in collaboration with Canadian artist Jeff De Boer, renowned for his miniature suits of armor for cats and mice.  After I had made the character and his clothes, the mouse was sent to Jeff in Canada to get his armour and spear. Once back in Norway, I started making a diorama for him.   https://www.facebook.com/JeffdeBoerSculpture/

Historical Research and Collaboration

I researched 16th-century Nordic armor and created a series of sketches based on historical references. I shared these with Jeff de Boer, and through our discussions, he offered valuable insight into what would work best from a design and construction perspective. His feedback helped refine both form and function in the final concept.

The Door

The large double door was crafted using wood from my grandmother’s old carders—a meaningful way to incorporate materials with personal history. I adorned the surface with hand-placed nails and sculpted the remaining details to bring out the character and weight of the door, giving it a sense of age and purpose within the scene.

The Gambeson

When Jeff and I discussed the character’s design, we agreed he should wear a traditional knight’s gambeson beneath the armor. I created this padded garment by hand and also crafted the rest of his clothing, including an undershirt and leather boots. Each piece was carefully constructed to reflect the layered, functional attire typical of the period.

The Wall

The stone walls were hand-cut from polystyrene, using the same technique I had developed while working on the mine project. I added surface texture, then applied multiple paint washes and weathering effects to achieve a realistic, aged appearance. To create variation and achieve the specific structure I envisioned, I sculpted the stones surrounding the door from clay, giving them a distinct look and tactile quality to set them apart from the rest of the wall.

The Ground

The ground was made using real stones collected from my grandparents’ yard—bringing a layer of personal history into the piece. I set the stones in place with an acrylic mix containing crushed glass to mimic mortar, then enhanced the surface with various paint washes and a scattering of sand to create a natural, weathered look.