Reflexions
Reflexions is a permanent public monument by Torbjörn Johansson created in collaboration with Mats Olofgörs for the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters in Trondheim in 2010.
Medium:
Stainless steel, lacquered surfaces, integrated lighting
Description:
Reflexions is a monument honoring the founders of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters. At its center rests a mirror-polished sphere, surrounded by vertical columns under open sky. The reflective surface gathers its surroundings, drawing the viewer into a spatial experience shaped by perception, scale, and movement.
Although monumental in size, the work resists heaviness. The reflective exterior and white-lacquered interior create an impression of lightness and near suspension. Through its mirrored surfaces, the sculpture incorporates the viewer’s physical presence, aligning the work with contemporary sculptural strategies rather than traditional monumentality.
The sculpture’s internal lighting system responds to temperature data. Each day, the current temperature in Trondheim is measured and compared to historical temperature records from the period when the Society was founded. The difference between past and present temperatures determines the color of the light emitted by the sculpture.
When the present-day temperature is significantly colder, the light shifts toward blue-violet tones, followed by blue and green. When the temperature corresponds closely to historical measurements, the light appears white, edged with yellow and orange hues. On significantly warmer days, the light turns red. In this way, Reflexions continuously visualizes the passage of time, transforming scientific measurement into a perceptual and spatial experience.