Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt's Up and Under in the snow in Finland

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

Photograph: William T. Carson, 2021

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

a curving mound of earth with tunnels and pathways throughout

Nancy Holt, Up and Under (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m); length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m); diameter: 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Detail of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Interior view of a circular tunnel looking out onto a mound of earth with tunnels cutting through it.

Detail of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Detail of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Interior view of converging circular concrete tunnels with light coming through them

Detail of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

The sky framed by a circular concrete tunnel

Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Construction of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Construction image of concrete tunnels and earth being moved into place

Construction of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Construction of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Construction image of concrete tunnels and earth being moved into place

Construction of Nancy Holt, Up and Under  (1987-98)
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Overall surface area: 14 acres (5.7 hectares)
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m)
Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Earthwork & Sculpture

Up and Under

Nancy Holt
1987-98
Pinsiö, Finland
Sand, concrete, topsoil, grass, water
Mound: height ranges from 11 to 26 ft. (3.5 to 8 m), with a length of 630 ft. (192 m); Tunnels: length 241 ft. (74 m), with a diameter of 10 ft. (3 m)
© Holt/Smithson Foundation, Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

Located in an old sand quarry in Finland, Holt’s ​Up and Under w​as commissioned by artist and farmer Osmo Rauhala as part of a larger effort to restore and reclaim developed land. The work is made up of a curved, winding mound of earth, through which one vertical tunnel and seven horizontal tunnels—aligned with the North star, Polaris—are installed. Three reflective pools of water are positioned around the base of the sculpture. The vertical tunnel brings a view of the sky down from above, while earth collected from sites across Finland lie just underfoot. The work provides a terrain ripe for sensory experience and conceptual musing alike.

 Click here for information on visiting Up and Under.

See Also