Spanish Artist Unveils 'Aurora Borealis Star Dome' Sculpture in the Heart of Stockholm's Forests
Cristina Iglesias creates a new permanent sculpture at the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park, blending aluminum, steel, and stained glass structures with the natural Swedish forest.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The new sculpture, titled Aurora Borealis Star Dome, has been unveiled in Stockholm.
- Created by Spanish artist Cristina Iglesias on the highest point of the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park.
- The structure stands 4.8 meters tall and 7 meters wide, made from cast aluminum, steel, and stained glass.
- Officially opened on June 2, 2026, marking the park's 7th permanent art installation.
Madrid-based artist Cristina Iglesias has unveiled her latest site-specific sculpture titled Aurora Borealis Star Dome, situated on a rocky outcrop at the highest point of the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park within the Royal Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. The piece is crafted from a mixed media of cast aluminum, steel, and stained glass, featuring textures that mimic branches and roots emerging from the natural bedrock before expanding into a geometric dome roof that opens up to the surrounding sky and forest.
In terms of design and scale, the sculpture stands 4.8 meters tall and 7 meters wide, engineered as a permanent structure that invites visitors to step inside, sit on the rocks, or lie down to gaze up at the natural light shifting throughout the day. The crown of the dome is adorned with green and blue stained glass panels designed to filter sunlight in hues inspired by the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). As sunlight moves through the treetops, the reflections and filtered light inside create an atmosphere of serenity and wonder.
Placing outdoor art within the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park reflects a vital approach to integrating contemporary art with Sweden's nature and local history. Cristina Iglesias's work functions not merely as an exhibition object, but is designed as a functional space and resting point that encourages viewers to directly interact with their environment, echoing concepts of the relationship between architecture, landscape, and human experience.
The site of the sculpture was historically a 17th- and 18th-century location known as a 'hunting star,' which once served as a central meeting point for the royal hunting grounds, where paths and sightlines radiated outward to help hunters navigate the forest. Iglesias reinterprets this history, transforming a space originally focused on exclusivity and observation into an open gathering place for community, rest, and contemplation.
After being approached by the Princess Estelle Cultural Foundation to explore the Royal Djurgården, the Spanish artist visited Stockholm for the first time in January 2025, where she encountered the natural rock formations and observed the direction of sunlight filtering through the trees, inspiring a sculpture that bridges the untamed ground with a constructed architectural dome.
The Aurora Borealis Star Dome officially opened on June 2, 2026, marking the 7th permanent art piece commissioned for the sculpture park. Iglesias describes the work as a 'sanctuary' that invites people to connect with the cosmos, transforming a walk through the Stockholm woods into a year-round journey of discovery.
Source: designboom
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