Is this sculpture in Denmark the most frustrating work of art in the world?

Meet the awesome and confusing Elia, a work of art in Denmark that has everyone biting their nails. Like, really, everyone. Because this sculpture in Denmark is actually the most FRUSTRATING thing to watch! Created by artist Ingvar Cronhammar, the artwork sometimes spouts flame… sometimes. We typically go for soothing art, because, well, who wants to get stressed out by art? But we just can’t stop watching this live art video.

You seriously have to watch this sculpture in Denmark for yourself. It’s so, so strange! We want to look away so badly but we just can’t make ourselves!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gE9qxX5VjE?feature=oembed

Agh! We know we’re not the only ones gritting our teeth right now. YouTuber Tom Scott explains that Ingvar Cronhammar is quite famous for these strange art pieces, explaining in the video,

"He's famous for dark, industrial art, art that looks like machinery, art that looks alienating and remote. Elia certainly qualifies as all that: it's been here near the town of Herning, in Denmark, since 2001. 32 metres high, if you include those chimneys. The steps up to the viewing gallery are uncomfortably large, it feels like it wasn't designed for humans."

The entire set-up is pretty eerie. It’s definitely not the sort of artwork we’d, like, use to decorate our living spaces. Especially because it makes us pretty darn angry if we watch it for too long.

So what makes this work of art such a pain to look at?

Scott explains,

"Something feels wrong about this sculpture.  Which is all very impressive, but that's not the frustrating part.  In the middle, just between those four pillars, there is a gas burner, and it shoots a massive flame eight metres in the air, a huge blast of fire. It's one more ominous, unsettling thing about this sculpture: it might burst into flame at any moment. But it probably won't. Because it does that, on average, for just 25 seconds about once every two or three weeks."

Yeah, basically if you’re the kind of person who likes their art to be relaxing, or the least bit calming, look away! We’ll never get over this stressful creation. Why, Cronhammar, why?!