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The Mountain of Sadness: Return of The Souls
"The Mountain of Sadness" is inspired by Osorezan, a remote volcanic Buddhist pilgrimage destination famously known in Japan as the entrance to ‘the underworld’. It is also said, that, with a spiritual medium as an intermediary, one can make contact there with one’s ancestors. The visuals as well as the dramaturgy of the installation are inspired by this spectacular landscape, which has spots such as ‘The Lake of Blood’, ‘The River of Souls’, and ‘The Lake of Heaven’. The installation designed for The Aomori Museum of Art consisted of a tableau inspired by “The Sources of Hell", “The Heaven Lake" and "The Goddess of Mercy", which were created using images, films, light effects and sounds. In this tableau, the story of an unpredictable encounter between the late Butoh dancer Kinya Tsuruyama, the mysterious snow spirit Yuki Onna and other returning souls was told.
The art work pays tribute to deceased butohdancer Kinya Tsuruyama with whom Kjærsgaard collaborated about the Japanese part of her Verdensrum-series from 2016 until his passing in 2020.
Year of production: 2023
Idea and Animation: Birgit Kjærsgaard
Dramatic Consultant: Willie Flindt
Computer technical consultants: CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK
Assistants: Oscar Balund Jespersen (sound production) and Sophie Balund Jespersen (Yuki Onna)
Koboji Temple (West Koyasan)
For further information
Location:
Koboji Temple (West Koyasan), Tsugaru, Aomori, JP, 1. 9. – 4. 11. 2024
Part of "Tsugaru art from the temple"
Production team:
Koboji Temple, https://nishinokouyasan.com/
Shochan Dance / by Shoichi Fukushi, Shoichi Fukushi
Art Design/ by Akeo Ishizawa, https://www.ai-sign.com/
Verdensrum/ by Birgit Kjærsgaard, https://www.verdensrum.com/
For further information
Location:
Aomori Museum of Art, Community Gallery B
185 Chikano, Yasuta, Aomori City, Aomori Pref. 038-0021, Japan
Production team:
Gallery Hakusen, gallery HAKUSEN online shop | ギャラリー白線gallery HAKUSEN online shop | ギVerdensrum/ by Birgit Kjærsgaard, https://www.verdensrum.com/
Supported by: The EU Japan fest Japan Committee, The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation and The Toyota Foundation, Denmark. CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus.and The Danish Embassy in Japan.
The Mountain of Sadness: Kannon of Peace
The Mountain of Sadness is inspired by Osorezan, a desolated volcanic landscape in the Aomori prefecture, famously known in Japan as the buddhist entrance to the underworld.
For the A TRANS showcase a tableau was created, that refered to the statue of Dai-Heiwa no Kannon and its surroundings. The Japanese spirits, Dai-Heiwa no Kannon’s, are fabled creatures, either men or women, that represent peace, compassion, wrath and revenge. Here the statue is linked to a ghost version of the artists deceased mother, who appears "sparkling like stars and diamonds" in her wedding dress ready to offer help and advice to her loved ones, distressed throughout the world as well as the passersby in the underground. In a cinematic series the artist is seen wandering through the desolated landscape of Osorezan, searching for her late mother. The project was conceived in photos, digital-created images, films and text.
For further information: https://www.atrans.org | https://www.verdensrum.com |
Instagram: @atrans | @kjærsgaardbirgit | emopberlin
Facebook: atransorg | Birgit Kjærsgaard | emopberlin
Year of production: 2023
Running time: 2 minutes and 41 seconds
Idea, stills and films: Birgit Kjærsgaard
Dramatic Consultant: Willie Flindt
Technical consultant: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultants: CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK
Exhibition photo: Florian von Ploetz
Location:
A TRANS–Vitrine U–Zoologischer Garten,
Platform U9, Hardenbergplatz in 10787 Berlin, curated by Isolde Nagel
Within EMOP European Month of Photography Berlin 2023
In cooperation with Kultur Projekte Berlin
Birgit Kjærsgaard: Mountain of Sadness | Nordische Botschaften
Exhibition Review: Birgit Kjærsgaard | Mountain of Sadness — Musée Magazine (museemagazine.com)
Supported by: The Danish Arts Foundation, The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation and CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus.and The Danish Embassy in Germany.
The Mountain of Sadness - in commemoration of Kinya Tsuruyama
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VERDENSRUM IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrait
"The Mountain of Sadness" is inspired by Osorezan, a remote volcanic Buddhist pilgrimage destination famously known in Japan as the entrance to ‘the underworld’. It is also said, that, with a spiritual medium as an intermediary, one can make contact there with one’s ancestors. The visuals as well as the dramaturgy of the installation are inspired by this spectacular landscape, which has spots such as ‘The Lake of Blood’, ‘The River of Souls’, and ‘The Lake of Heaven’. The installation designed for Gallery Hakusen consisted of two tableaux inspired by “The Sources of Hell" and “The Heaven Lake", which were created using images, films, light effects and sounds. In these tableaux, the story of an unpredictable encounter between the late Butoh dancer Kinya
Tsuruyama* and the mysterious snow spirit Yuki Onna was told.
The art work pays tribute to deceased butohdancer Kinya Tsuruyama with whom Kjærsgaard collaborated about the Japanese part of her Verdensrum-series from 2016 until his passing in 2020.
As part of the exhibition the cinematique Verdensrum-series is shown in Bar Tabasa next to Gallery Hakusen.
Year of production: 2022
Running time: 12 minutes
Idea, stills and films: Birgit Kjærsgaard
Dramatic Consultant: Willie Flindt
Technical consultant: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultants: CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK
Assistants: Oscar Balund Jespersen (sound production) and Sophie Balund Jespersen (Yuki Onna)
Venue:
Gallery Hakusen
阿佐谷南1-36-14, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryHakusen/
Supported by The EU Japan Fest Japan Committeé, The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation, The Danish Art Foundation, CAVI, Center of Advanced Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus.and The Danish Embassy in Japan.
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...”
Verdensrum IV, Japan: Landscape/Portrai 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 cinematic 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 magical 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 Buddha appears on the middle screen carrying out/performing traditional gesticulation (mudras) - symbolically mixing the two mandaras. It all culminates in photo-realistic scenes from the Kumano River and the Pacific Ocean – shrouded in fog and mist.
Year of production: 2017
Running time: 45 minutes
Idea, images and Animations: Birgit Kjærsgaard
Sound Track: Jørgen Teller and Shinichi Watanabe
Businessman: Kinya Tsuruyama
Urban woman: Sayoko Onishi
Dramatic Consultant: Willie Flindt
Technical consultant: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultant: CAVI, Center of Advanzed Visualization and Interaction, University of Aarhus, DK
Open Stage, Aarhus 6th December 2017
WITHIN THE PROGRAM OF AARHUS 2017 AND THE JAPANESE EMBASSY IN DENMARKS PROGRAM FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 150-YEARS ANNIVERSARY FOR JAPANESE/DANISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
A trans c/o Architektur Gallerie Berlin, Berlin, DE, 13. 1. – 10. 2. 2018
Gallery Hakusen, Asagaya, Tokyo, JP, 19. 5. – 2. 6. 2018
Biffen, Odder, DK and Kombi, Hornslet, DK, 2019
WITHIN THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL REGION CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2019
Ry Biograf, Ry, DK and Biografen Samsø, Samsø, DK, 2021
Bar Tabasa, 〒166-0001 Tokyo, Suginami City, Asagayakita, 北2-13-18 マスキビル202
https://tabasaasagaya.tumblr.com/
In collaboration with:
Gallery Hakusen
阿佐谷南1-36-14, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryHakusen
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.
The VERDENSRUM-trilogy. Trailer
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.
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.
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
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: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultants: 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
Biffen, Odder, 2020 and Kombi, Hornslet, 2020
Ry Biograf, Ry, DK and Biografen Samsø, Samsø, DK, 2021
Bar Tabasa, 〒166-0001 Tokyo, Suginami City, Asagayakita, 北2-13-18 マスキビル202
https://tabasaasagaya.tumblr.com/
In collaboration with:
Gallery Hakusen
阿佐谷南1-36-14, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryHakusen
Supported by: Danish Art Foundation, Danish National Banks Jubilefoundation, City of Aarhus, CAVI, TECHNE and UMA.
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: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultants: 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
Biffen, Odder, 2020 and Kombi, Hornslet, 2020
Ry Biograf, Ry, DK and Biografen Samsø, Samsø, DK, 2021
Bar Tabasa, 〒166-0001 Tokyo, Suginami City, Asagayakita, 北2-13-18 マスキビル202
https://tabasaasagaya.tumblr.com/
In collaboration with:
Gallery Hakusen
阿佐谷南1-36-14, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryHakusen
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 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: Ernst Kallesøe
Computer technical consultants: 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
Biffen, Odder, 2020 and Kombi, Hornslet, 2020
Ry Biograf, Ry, DK and Biografen Samsø, Samsø, DK, 2021
Bar Tabasa, 〒166-0001 Tokyo, Suginami City, Asagayakita, 北2-13-18 マスキビル202
https://tabasaasagaya.tumblr.com/
In collaboration with:
Gallery Hakusen
阿佐谷南1-36-14, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryHakusen
Supported by: Danish Art Foundation, Danish National Banks Jubilefoundation, City of Aarhus, CAVI, TECHNE and UMA.