Gotland's Lithological Society was created in 2023 by the visual artist Tuula Närhinen for the Art of Heritage initiative, a project realised by the Baltic Art Center (BAC) in collaboration with the Gotland Museum. The GLS sets out to study the geological history and cultural traditions associated with the uses of limestone. Focusing on lithological matters and petrificata, the project explores cycles of sedimentation and erosion. The work draws from littoral processes - the elemental forces of nature that constantly layer, expose and erode sediments on the beach banks - as well as from the human cultural techniques in their futile attempt to preserve memories in limestone – only to end up with weathered church ruins, partly erased inscriptions and fragmentary fossil collections.

Below and above the rune script alphabet in the ruin church of the Helge And (the Holy Spirit) in Visby.

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The rune script alphabet in the S:t Karin church ruin in Visby.

The rune script alphabet in the S:t Hans church ruin in Visby.

Whispers from the Past

Whispers from the Past revisits the tradition of rune writing. Starting from the oldest known inscriptions in the 3rd century, the rune alphabet was frequently used on the Gotland Island, and the writing system prospered and continued to exist alongside roman letters for well over 1000 years.

The work pays tribute to rune writing in the form of temporary graffiti, using natural ingredients such as twigs, pine needles or seawater as writing materials.

Fragments of rune inscriptions will be retraced from the archives and from Gotland museum's collections to create traces of script on the empty stones slabs that remain in the Visby church ruins.

The rune inscriptions in the ruin churches will be executed by a group of high school students from Wisbygymnasiet who in a workshop led by the rune expert Magnus Källström will learn the basics, and start working as “ghosts” who through the act of rune writing will bring back to life ancient tradition that evokes proper names or magic words from generations past.