INRI
Altarpiece size: 350 cm x 250 x 30 cm. © Halvor Bodin 2004.
The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Tunsberg, Laila Riksaasen Dahl, 28 November 2004 (first Sunday of Advent). The altarpiece was a result of a closed competition with four artists. The altarpiece is my personal interpretation of Christian faith and heritage. A visualization of the force of Jesus Christ as symbol for unconditional love, God's love for humankind through the forgiveness of Christ. The surface and the facets of the altarpiece reflect the congregation, as individuals and as a whole, as blurred reflections of motion. The altarpiece is a soft mirror that changes colour according to the shifting light through the windows in the walls and roof. The built-in blue LED lights generate additional depths, reflections and shadows and connects the altarpiece to the blue glass cross-window. The altarpiece do not refer to biblical storytelling as such. It represents formally, in a semi-abstract way, organic elements, like trees, plants, leaves, roots, rhizomes, sprouts, growth and water. The colour blue symbolizes water which refers to organic growth and baptism. The wooden sculptures on each side of the altar are made by Ståle Kyllingstad.
INRI is an acronym of the Latin inscription IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), which translates to English as Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.
The wall behind the altar, as viewed from the nave, is the east wall, no matter what direction you are actually facing. In the past, all church buildings faced east, and it is still the case for eastern Orthodox churches today. A person who enters the church goes from west to east, which symbolizes going from the evil of the present world to the glory of the New Jerusalem to come.
Extensive documentation of the project on Flickr.
Wikipedia page for Ullerål Church (In Norwegian).
Geolocation for this permanent installation.