Ikaros syster i hennes andra försök (Icarus’s Sister in Her Second Attempt)

Icarus’s Sister, or the Täby Woman, as she was once popularly known, is one of Örebro’s most controversial artworks and has quite an interesting history.
The work of art you see outside the main entrance to the Örebro Airport is actually the second Ikarus’s Sister to live in Örebro.

After the unveiling of the first work in 1978, a lively debate ensued, filling the letters to the editor pages in the local newspapers for months. Most of the critique was about the woman’s appearance. She was considered to be too naked, too fat and as insulting to women. The debate culminated one night when someone blew up the sculpture with dynamite. The work was seriously damaged, but could be restored and re-inaugurated in 1980, then with its new name, Icarus’s Sister in Her Second Attempt.

Four meters high, the statue is shaped like an Ionic column. On the side of the column facing the entrance, a winged woman sways in what seems to be an attempt to fly. In the sculpture, expressions of lightness and movement are juxtaposed with expressions of weight and immobility.

The work’s title suggests that she is the sister of Icarus from Greek mythology, who flew too near the sun and plunged into the sea. Icarus is also often associated with the development of aviation.

This is what the artist has to say about the work: ‘I haven’t depicted a woman exactly, I’ve depicted a feeling: This feeling of wanting to fly – to be free – and not being able to because you are stuck in this old culture.’

Today, the sculpture feels far less provocative. If a similar sculpture was erected now, would it arouse similarly strong feelings?

Karin Ward was born in 1940 and is a Swedish sculptor working in Örebro. She studied at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm from 1957–1961 and has lived in Egypt and France, among other places.