CURRICULUM VITAE BIRGIT KJÆRSGAARD, MEDIA ARTIST & ARCHITECT
Educated from The School of Architecture, Aarhus, DK (1993) and Aarhus University Music Department (1984). Participated in Architext, collaboration between young architects and authors, DAC, Danish Architecture Center, Copenhagen, DK (1992) and Charlottenborgs Autumn Exhibition, Copenhagen, DK, 1993. Exhibitiondesign for the exhibition Children and Architecture, School of Architecture, Aarhus, 1994, with Janni Dreyer. Stage designs for Journal
#64 Kristensen, Gellerupscenen, Aarhus, 1994 and Cyklotron, Entréscenen, 1995. Worked in architect offices such as Ethospace Designs, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KHR AS Architects and 3XN Architects from 1996 - 2003. Initiated The VERDENSRUM-series, 2004, which is a 3D-film and cross-artistic project about cultural icons or metaphors of important world cultures, which has its origins in her fascination of foreign cultures, for their aesthetic and philosophies. Points of departure for this exploration are designs, figures, signs, landscapes and the weather. The project is conceived in interdisciplinary terms, and incorporates photography, film, visuals, performance, music, and aroma. Each project is based on research in the respectively culture and involve beside Kjærsgaard participants from various fields such as dramaturges, choreographers, computer scientists etc. Since 2005 collaboration with CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, Aarhus University and stage director Willie Flindt, co-founder of Hotel Proforma. Exhibitions with The VERDENSRUM-series at Images of The Middle East Culture Festival, Aarhus, DK and The International Digital Art Festival, ”On The Edge”, Aarhus, DK, 2006, Charlottenborgs Spring Exhibition, Copenhagen, DK, 2008, The Artists
Autumn Exhibition, Gl. Holtegaard, Holte, DK, 2009, A trans Pavilion, Berlin, DE, within 4th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, 2010, Gallery Under 64, Aarhus, DK and Salo Art Museum, Salo, FIN, 2013, School of Architecture, Aarhus DK, Nicolai, Kolding, DK and A trans, c/o Gallerie Zweigstelle, Berlin, DE, within 6th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, 2014, Open Stage, Aarhus, DK, within the programs of AARHUS 2017 and The 150-years anniversary for Japanese/Danish diplomatic relations, 2017, A trans, c/o Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit, Berlin, DE and Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo, JP, 2018, European Cultural Regions Cultural Festival, 2019 and A trans, Vitrinen, Kleistpark U-Bahn Berlin, DE, within 9th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, 2020. The Verdensrum-series in Ry and Samsø cinemas in 2021. Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo, JP, Nov 2022, curated by Shinjiro Saito, The Mountain of Sadness - in commemoration of Kinya Tsuruyama, performance-installation. Screening of The Verdensrum-series in Bar Tabasa, Tokyo, JP, Nov 2022. A TRANS–Vitrine U–Zoologischer Garten, Platform U9, Berlin, DE, curated by Isolde Nagel. The Mountain of Sadness II.Received travelling- and working grants from The Danish Art Foundation as well as project support and support for international activities in 2003 (Spain, Morocco, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan), 2008, 2010, 2011 (Japan), 2015 (Japan), 2017, 2018 (Germany, Japan, China), 2019 (China) and 2020. Furthermore she has received project support from The Danish Embassy, Berlin (2020), The EU Japan Fest Japan Committee (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023), The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023), The Danish National Banks Jubilee Foundation (2009), Aarhus Art Council (2003, 2005, 2008, 2017), Kolding Art Council (2014), Odder Art Council (2018), Hornslet Art Council (2019 and 2020), Skanderborg Art Council (2020) and European Cultural Region (2020).
2024 The Mountain of Sadness: Return of The Souls. Koboji Temple, JP. Part of "Tsugaru art from the temple" exhibition
2024 The Mountain of Sadness: Return of The Souls. Minako Momo Suzukis House in collaboration with Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo
2023 The Mountain of Sadness: Return of The Souls. Aomori Museum of Art, Community Gallery B, 185 Chikano, Yasuta, Aomori City, Aomori Pref. 038-0021, Japan in collaboration with Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo
The Mountain of Sadness II. A TRANS–Vitrine U–ZoologischerGarten, Platform U9, Berlin, DE, curated by Isolde Nagel. Within 10 th. European Month of Photograp hy Berlin Festival 2023
A TRANS–Vitrine U–Zoologischer Garten, Platform U9, Berlin, DE, curated by Isolde Nagel. The Mountain of Sadness II. Within EMOP European Month of Photography Berlin 2023
2022 Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo, JP, Nov, curated by Shinjiro Saito, The Mountain of Sadness - in commemoration of Kinya Tsuruyama, performance-installation. Screening of The Verdensrum-series in Bar Tabasa. Networking and meeting activities, Tokyo and Aomori, JP.
2021 The Verdensrum-series in Ry and Samsø cinemas. Development of The Mountain of Sadness - in commemoration of Kinya Tsuruyama
2020 A trans, Vitrinen, Kleistpark U-Bahn Berlin, DE, within 9th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, curated by Isolde Nagel, Verdensrum V, Japan: The Mountain of Sadness
Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain, Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist, Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis in cinemas in East Jutland.
Kunstværket, Odder, DK, The Mountain of Sadness (OK18)
2019 Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait in cinemas as part of European Cultural Regions Cultural Festival.
Research in JP Verdensrum VI, Japan: The Mountain of Sadness (Osorezan)
Concept for Verdensrum VI, China: The Five Sacred Mountains, collaboration with Danish Cultural Center, Beijing
Kunstværket, Odder, DK, Landscapes (OK 18)
2018 Networking and meeting activities, Beijing, CHN
Gallery Hakusen, Tokyo, JP, May/Jun, curated by Shinjiro Saito, Verdensrum, Japan: Ryōkai Resist (Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait), performance-installation.
Networking and meeting activities, Tokyo, JP.
A trans, c/o Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Satellit, Berlin, DE, Jan/Feb, curated by Isolde Nagel, Verdensrum, Japan: Ryōkai Resist , performance-installation.
Networking and meeting activities, Berlin, DE
Kunstværket, Odder, DK, Landscapes (OK 18)
2017 Open Stage, Aarhus, DK, within the programs of AARHUS 2017 and The 150-years anniversary for Japanese/Danish diplomatic relations, Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait, performance
Morgen Briefing, Performing Arts Platform, Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait
Production of Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait in collaboration with CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, Aarhus University
2016 Production of Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait in collaboration with CAVI, Aarhus University
Networking and meetings in Tokyo and shootings in the Kumano area and The Eko-in Temple, Koyasan, JP
2015 Kunstværket, Odder, DK, Mandala landscapes (OK 18)
Performance concept for Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait
2014 A trans, c/o Gallerie Zweigstelle, Berlin, DE, within 6th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, curated by Isolde Nagel, Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait, in- progress
Nicolai, Kolding, DK, Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain, Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist, Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis
School of Architecture, Aarhus DK, Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis, Mosaics, Lattices
2013 Gallery Under 64, Aarhus, DK, Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain, Verdensrum II, China:
Lattice/Mist, Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis med Anja Christensen
Kunstværket, Odder, DK (OK18)
Salo Art Museum, Salo, FIN, Mosaic (OK 18)
2012 Research for Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait, Eko-in Temple, Koyasan and The Yoshino and Kumano Mountains, JP
2011 Concept for Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait, collaboration with A trans
2010 A trans Pavilion, Berlin, DE, within 4th. European Month of Photography Berlin Festival, curated by Isolde Nagel, Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain, Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist, Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis
Production of Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis in collaboration with CAVI, Aarhus University
2009 The Artists Autumn Exhibition, Gl. Holtegaard, Holte, DK, Mosaics
Production of Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis in collaboration with CAVI, Aarhus University
Concept and storyboard for Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis in collaboration with Willie Flindt
2008 Charlottenborgs Spring Exhibition, Copenhagen, DK, curated by Karim Rashid, NYC,
Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist, Lattices
Networking and meetings, Backstage Berlin II, arranged by The Danish Art Foundation and The Danish Embassy, Berlin
2007 Production of Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist in collaboration with CAVI, Aarhus University
2006 The International Digital Art Festival, ”On The Edge”, Aarhus, DK, arrangered by Pappagallo, Aarhus, Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain Images of The Middle East Culture Festival, Aarhus, DK, arrangered by KulturhusAarhus & CKU, Center for Culture and Development, Copenhagen, DK. Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain + graphic identity/visuals for the festival.
Production of Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain in collaboration with CAVI, Aarhus University
2005 Development of digital figures and patterns for Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain and Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist
Concept and storyboards for Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain and Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist in collaboration with Willie Flindt
2004 Research for Verdensrum I, Arab: Mosaic/Rain, Verdensrum II, China: Lattice/Mist and Verdensrum III, India: Mandala/Metropolis in Spain, Morocco, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan.