Making the impossible possible

October 12, 2010 3:00 AM

Chances are you've seen videos here in the blue of Norwegian Eskil Ronningsbakken performing acts of extreme balance. As a follow up, I offer numerous additional stills of Eskil in his quest to create art from balance. His official web site has more images, and he also has a Facebook page, from which I took this quote: "The vulnerable human being balancing between life and death is something I, among many others, consider art. The most important message that I signal with my actions is that ANYTHING is possible!"

From the Global Balancing "About" page:

"The art which we create, whether on stage, in front of the cameras, or in nature, is a direct result of numerous amazing, inspiring, dreadful and difficult experiences. I aim, with my buddies around the world, never to be the same today as we were yesterday; continue to develop wherever the journey may lead us."

posted by bwg (8 comments total)

I note, with interest, Ronningsbakken is only 30 years old. He is undoubtedly skilful. In terms of his longer term career, the question is whether he is also lucky.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:59 AM on October 12, 2010

It's one way to make a living.
posted by Obscure Reference at 4:47 AM on October 12, 2010

I'll be honest, given his other balance acts, I'm not all that impressed that he was able to balance on three chairs on top of a wedged boulder suspended in a crevasse of a cliff.

I'm impressed he could get down from it.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:59 AM on October 12, 2010

Some see an artist. Some see an athlete. I see a nut job.
posted by Uncle Grumpy at 5:14 AM on October 12, 2010

This art certainly makes me feel something.
posted by Free word order! at 5:15 AM on October 12, 2010

Why the hate? I mean, I don't want to do this, and it gives me a sort of vicarious horror to look at the pictures, but I am sort of glad that he is doing it. They are pretty pictures, after all.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:38 AM on October 12, 2010

Why the hate?

Those pictures are so terrifying my nuts hurt.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:28 AM on October 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

He's also considered the godfather of x-treme pornography.
posted by mannequito at 8:27 PM on October 12, 2010