top of page

Stills performance & landscapes

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

Sequence

              Stills

Travel notes. Kôyasan, Japan april 2012

”... The Okuno-in cemetery, Kôyasan mountain and the surrounds left a lasting impression on me. The 800-year-old, super tall cedars; the rice paper lamps, that glowed in the dark; the water tanks, we washed our hands and mouths in as we moved gradually closer to the sacred areas; and finally Kobo Daishis’ resting place behind a screen with cedars in the background and guilded lotus leaves in the foreground. Very atmospheric ... The rice paper-covered sliding doors shimmered with a mysterious light that had no obvious source and no breeze to explain the shimmering. The entire scene filled me with peace - almost like a foretaste of the "Ryôkai " that was maybe waiting...”

The performance-exhibition Landscape/Portrait is inspired by a Japanese mandala ritual practiced by the monks of the Kōyasan mountains and the characteristic Japanese landscapes associated with the ritual. Furthermore it draws on the power filled Japanese form of expressive dance – butoh - and the sound of the shakuhachi flute.

 

The physical arrangement of this performative work is reminiscent of the tableaux found in Japanese temples. It consists of three parallel 3D-projections, which variously alternate and play together, contrasted by butoh of Kinya Tsuruyama and Sayoko Onishi.

The viewer is led through an abstract mountain landscape shrouded in mist and then guided along labyrinthine routes surrounded by abstract landscapes and Buddhas – in this instance the Buddhas come in the form of a modern businessman and a trendy urban woman. Upon arrival at the center of the maze the hands of the Buddha appear on the middle screen performing traditional gesticulation (mudras) - symbolically mixing the two mandalas. It all culminates in photo-realistic scenes from the Kumano River and the Pacific Ocean - shrouded in fog and mist.

The dancers are part of the tableau. They replace the meditating person in the center of the tableau, who must merge the two mandalas - the masculine mandala (Kongôkai mandara) and a feminine mandala (Taizôkai mandara) - instead the mandalas melt together in the dance.

The project is realized as both exhibition and performance with 3D-film projections and soundscape.

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist is created by Birgit Kjærsgaard

Participants:

Kinya Tsuruyama and Sayoko Onishi: Dancers and choreographers

Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe: Composers

Willie Flindt:  Instruction, dramaturgy

Ernst Kallesøe:  Lighting Design, technical consultant 

CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction: Digital technical consultants

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and Open Stage, Godsbanen.

Premiered at Open Stage, Aarhus 6th December 2017 within the program of AARHUS 2017

and within The Japanese Embassy in Denmarks program for the celebration of the 150-years anniversary for Japanese/Danish diplomatic relations. 

Performance-exhibition in Gallery Hakusen, Asagaya, Tokyo, JP

19. 5. – 2. 6. 2018

Program

Kinya Tsuruyama (19.05.2018, opening performance) with Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Hiroshi Abe (musician), Morio Tanimura (musician) and Akito Sutou (musician) 

Kinya Tsuruyama, (27.05.2018, poet night) with Yasuhiro Numata (performer), Hiroshi Abe (performer and musician) Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Morio Tanimura (musician) 

Kinya Tsuruyama (2.06.2018, finissage performance), with Elizabeth Muñoz Castro (dancer), Satoru Hirashima (musician),  Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Hiroshi Abe (musician), Morio Tanimura (musician) and Akito Sutou (musician) 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Sasakawa-Foundation, The Art Council in Aarhus, The Danish Embassy, Tokyo, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX,

CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus

Links

Invitation

 

Press

Hakusen

 

ギャラリー白線企画展

ビルギット・グラスゴー “Verdensrum IV,Japan : Ryōkai Resist”

3D ビデオインスタレーション + 舞踏

会期:5月19日(土)ー 6月2日(土) 水曜休廊

時間:17:00 – 22:00

 

【オープニング/クロージング レセプション, パフォーマンス】

 5月19日(土) 19:00-

 6月2日(土) 19:00-

 舞踏:鶴山欣也

 

デンマークのアーティスト・建築家BirgitKjærsgaardは、アジアの文化の記号体系とメタファーについて、長年にわたり調査しています。 Verdensrum IV,Japan:RyōkaiResistは、日本の瞑想儀式と自然崇拝の概念に基づいたユニークな3Dインスタレーションです。アジアの精神的な教えと哲学を、表現力豊かな舞踏パフォーマンス、映像、サウンド、現代的な3D技術を用いて融合させます。 すべての文化には日常の経験や存在だけでなく神話や歴史にも関係する独自の時間感覚があります。 このインスタレーションは、思考過程に焦点を当てた東洋の伝統と哲学を、芸術的に解釈しています。 舞踏の場合、思考と運動は同じ平面に位置し、精神と肉体は調和しています。 この作品では、現代のコンテクストにおいて、高野山の修験者によって今も伝えられる古代の瞑想儀式と舞踏の力を結合させます。 意識の探検家として、鑑賞者は心と宇宙の景観を巡る旅に参加します。 ギャラリー白線 東京都杉並区阿佐谷南1-36-14 1F info@hakusen.jp

 

 

 

Performance-exhibition in A trans c/o Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Berlin, DE

13. 1. – 10. 2. 2018

Program

Performances every Saturday 4 – 6 pm during exhibition with:

 

Kinya Tsuruyama (13.01.2018, opening performance)
Kinya Tsuruyama with Junku Iwahashi, Yoshihiro Shimomura, Mishiyasu Furutan, Zam Johnson and Sebastian Quiroga Chand (19.01.2018)

Kinya Tsuruyama (20.01.2018)

Momo Sanno (27.01.2018)

Brigitte Westkemper (03.02.2018)

Andy Ninvalle (10.02.2018)

Links

Invitation

 

Press

A trans

Verdensrum_IV_Japan_Landscape_Portrait_still(2).jpg

Performance II in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

Performance II in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer) with Elizabeth Muñoz Castro (dancer), Satoru Hirashima (musician),  Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Hiroshi Abe (musician), Morio Tanimura (musician) and Akito Sutou (musician) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 45 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

Gallery Hakusen, Asagaya, Tokyo, JP, 2018, curated by Shinjiro Saito

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Sasakawa Foundation, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

20180119-DSC_0255-Edit(2).jpg

Poet reading in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (performer), Yasuhiro Numata (performer), Hiroshi Abe (performer and musician) Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Morio Tanimura (musician) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 45 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

Gallery Hakusen, Asagaya, Tokyo, JP, 2018, curated by Shinjiro Saito

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Sasakawa Foundation, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

DS3_0301.jpg

Performance I in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer), Hiroshi Abe (musician) Shuhey Yamaguchi (musician), and Morio Tanimura (musician) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 45 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

Gallery Hakusen, Asagaya, Tokyo, JP, 2018, curated by Shinjiro Saito

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Sasakawa Foundation, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance II in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer) with Junku Iwahashi (dancer), Yoshihiro Shimomura (dancer), Mishiyasu Furutan (dancer), Zam Johnson (musician) and Sebastian Quiroga Chand (musician)

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 55 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance III in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance IV in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Kinya Tsuruyama (choreographer/dancer) with Annalisa Maggiani

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance V in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Momo Sanno (choreographer/dancer) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance VII in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Andy Ninvalle (choreographer/dancer) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

Performance VI in VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist

Performance by Brigitte Westkemper (choreographer/dancer) 

Year of production: 2018

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Team:

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit , Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  A trans´ program of A Radical City 2018

 

Supported by: The Danish Art Foundation, The EU Japan Fest Committee, The Art Council in Aarhus, SITNI SATI, THINKBOX, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus and A trans.

 

VERDENSRUM, Japan: Ryōkai Resist Part I

 

Part I, Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait exhibited in A trans C/O Zweigstelle, Berlin, DE, 2014, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  6TH EUROPEAN MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY BERLIN 2014.

Links

Invitation

 

Download PDF

 

Press

 

Download PDF

 

A trans

 

6th Month of Photography

 

Baunetzwoche#388 20. November 2014

 

..."Eine 3D-Installation aus vier Elementen? Klingt etwas kompliziert, ist aber ziemlich spannend: Birgit Kjærsgaard möchte mittels Foto, Film, Sound und Geruch auf eine Pilgerreise durch die japanische Berglandschaft Koya-san, unweit der Millionenstadt Osaka, entführen. Diese Transformation eines Ortes in seine Bestandteile ist in der Ausstellung in der Berliner Plattform A TRANS – kuratiert von Frank Wagner - zu sehen und zu riechen.  Die Dänischen Architektin und Künstlerin, die seit Jahren zur Rezeption kultureller Zeichensysteme und der Metaphorik von Weltkulturen forscht, kreiert sowohl mit realistischen Abbildungen als auch mit abstrakten Bildern einen Japanischen Raum mitten in Berlin. Zu sehen bis zum 20. Dezember 2014 in der Zweigstelle Berlin."...

VERDENSRUM II, China: Lattice/Mist

 

VERDENSRUM II, China : Lattice/Mist is a meditation on red Chinese characters and yellow, geometric lattice with temple-gong music. Initially one sees some Chinese characters. They develop into patterns and a cylinder getting closer. Suddenly the beholder is inside the cylinder. Patterns change and become more complex, until the movie turns backward, and one is slowly brought out of the cylinder and back to one of the Chinese characters, gradually disappearing in the mist.

​Birgit Kjærsgaard

 

Year of production: 2008

Running time: 15 minutes

Idea and Animation: Birgit Kjærsgaard

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Exhibitions:

 

Charlottenborgs Spring Exhibition 2008, curated by Karim Rashid, NYC

 

A trans Pavilion, Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  4TH EUROPEAN MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY BERLIN 2010

 

Pakhus 64, Aarhus, DK, 2013

 

Nicolai, Kolding, DK, 2014

 

Supported by: Danish Art Foundation,  Danish National Banks Jubilefoundation, City of Aarhus, CAVI, TECHNE and UMA.

 

 

Links

 

CHARLOTTENBORG SPRING EXHIBITION 2008. Review by Torben Sangild, Politiken (in Danish)

 

....."Der er mere teknologisk retro at finde i Søren Bjørns malede kassettebånd og ikke mindst hos Birgit Kjærsgaard, der har genoplivet 3D-brillerne – de dér plasticbriller med røde og blå glas, som man forsøgte at lancere i biograferne i 1950’erne. Men i hendes 3D-film er det ikke monstre og tog der kører imod én. Det er en abstrakt-arkitektonisk meditation over røde, kinesiske skrifttegn og grønt geometrisk fletværk med tempel-gong-musik af Jørgen Teller. Selv om det ind imellem gør næsten ondt i de forvirrede øjne, er det en smuk og uhyre velproduceret installation, omgivet af den humor og sociale dialog, der ofte vil opstå, når folk skal iføre sig de fjollede briller....

 

Uddrag fra Politiken

 

VERDENSRUM III, India: Mandala/Metropolis

 

VERDENSRUM III, India: Mandala/Metropolis” is a meditation on golden mandalas and modern cityscapes, accompanied by the sound of tablas. In the beginning one sees the universe. A star (dot) becomes a Buddhist mandala. The mandala figure turns and on its top a city (a New York icon) rises. The city turns and a Hinduist mandala appears. One enters the mandala and its patterns start to change - becoming more and more complex as one gets closer to the center of the mandala. The film turns and one is slowly brought out of the mandala. By the end the mandala figure crumples and disappears.

​Birgit Kjærsgaard

 

Year of production: 2010

Running time: 15 minutes

Idea and Animation: Birgit Kjærsgaard

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Exhibitions:

 

A trans Pavilion, Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  4TH EUROPEAN MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY BERLIN 2010

 

Pakhus 64, Aarhus, DK, 2013

 

Aarhus School of Architecture, Aarhus, DK, 2014

 

Nicolai, Kolding, DK, 2014

 

Supported by: Danish Art Foundation,  Danish National Banks Jubilefoundation, City of Aarhus, CAVI, TECHNE and UMA.

 

VERDENSRUM I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain

 

VERDENSRUM I, Arab : Mosaic/Rain” is a meditation on Turkish, Arabic mosaics, accompanied by the sound of a drop. Initially one sees a “dot”. It develops into a geometric pattern and an octagon. The beholder enters the octagon. Patterns change and become more complex, until the film turns, and one is slowly brought out of the octagon and back to the “dot”, which transforms into a drop turning into rain.

​Birgit Kjærsgaard

 

Year of production: 2008

Running time: 15 minutes

Idea and Animation: Birgit Kjærsgaard

Sound Track: Jørgen Teller

Dramatic Consultant Willie Flindt

Technical consultant CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK

 

Exhibitions:

 

Images of The Middle East festival, Aarhus, DK, 2006

 

The International Digital Festival, Aarhus, DK, 2006

 

A trans Pavilion, Berlin, DE, 2010, curated by Isolde Nagel

 

WITHIN  4TH EUROPEAN MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY BERLIN 2010

 

Pakhus 64, Aarhus, DK, 2013

 

Nicolai, Kolding, DK, 2014

 

Supported by: Danish Art Foundation,  Danish National Banks Jubilefoundation, City of Aarhus, CAVI, TECHNE and UMA.

 

 

bottom of page