A Chilean artist has been jailed after dyeing a famous hot spring in Iceland pink with food colouring. Marco Evaristti, the South American artist who is based in Copenhagen, poured red fruit dye into the Strokkur Geysir, found around 70 miles to the north east of Reykjavik, at dawn. When they boiled, vibrant pink steam blew up from the ground as a result. Professing that 'nature belongs to no one', he did not seek permission from local authorities before the stunt. He has since been jailed for two weeks after landowners lambasted his efforts as 'vandalism'. Scroll down for video . An artist has been jailed after pouring food dye into the Strokkur Geysir natural hot spring in Iceland, causing its the water to turn bright pink . Artist Marco Evarastti defended his artwork, saying nature belonged to 'no one'. Icelandic authorities jailed the Chilean national for 15 days . 'This is not art,' Garðar Eiríks­son, a spokesman for the landowners of the Geysir area told local news outlet mbl.is. 'I am deeply sorry that a visitor to out country comes up with such an idea. I have very few words to describe my disgust at these actions.' Evaristti defended his artwork, describing himself as a 'landscape painter'. 'I do what I do be­cause I'm a painter, a land­scape painter who does­n't use a can­vas, I paint di­rectly on na­ture. 'I do not ask for per­mis­sion be­cause na­ture be­longs to noone. I be­lieve in free­dom of speech and I believe na­ture does­n't be­long to cer­tain peo­ple, but to every­one.' 'I love mother nature. If I love a womn I give her a diamond ring. That's why I decorate nature, because I love it.' The artist has carried out the same stunt four times across the world including at a frozen waterfall in Norway last year. Boasting of the 'installation' on his website, he wrote: 'The 5th Pink State has seen the light of day. 'This morning the utopian state of Pink State claimed as it´s new territory the magnificent Strokkur Geysir in Iceland.' Natural wonder: The spring (pictured in summer months above) usually lets off white steam and water .
Marco Evaristti poured red fruit dye into the Strokkur Geysir at dawn.
When the hot spring boiled, bright pink steam erupted from the ground.
The Chilean artist has been jailed for 15 days by 'disgusted' authorities.
He defended the artwork saying 'nature belongs to no one'