Having a cold shower at the Cisterns

Why not spend one of these mighty fine and bright spring days underground in a cold and dark cave? This was my thought, as I read that the Swedish artist Ingvar Cronhammer (b. 1947), is currently exhibiting at the Cisterns, Frederiksberg. 

The concept for my words on this exhibition H will be more fragmented and intuitive than usual. I think this way fits my experience of Cronhammers installation best.

Immediate experience of the installation - in five words:

• Showers
• Beauty
• Darkness
• Raumgefühl
• Repetition

Emotions related to the experience of the installation - in five words:

• Tranquility
• Purification
• Freedom
• Loneliness
• Immersion

Three good things about H at the Cisterns:

• The use of sound and music (by Martin Hall) in the installation adds something valuable to the experience of the space
• The installation is so spacious that you can experience it without much disturbance from other visitors
• The Cisterns are, with its cold, dark and moist caves, an interesting space in itself

Two less good things about H at the Cisterns:

• Very little information available about Ingvar Cronhammer and his exhibition at the Cisterns, and online at cisternerne.dk (luckily there are many reviews available of the exhibition online, my favourite is Lisbeth Bondes review for KUNSTEN.NU)
• I imagine that too many visitors will make the experience less fortunate

Christina Capetillo 2015 (from cisternerne.dk)

Cronhammers exhibition can be seen until November 29, 2015.  

Connecting to the infinite nature: Tróndur Patursson's Cosmic Universe

Tróndur Patursson (FO, f. 1944) has crossed the great oceans of this planet seven times in frail boats with his friend, the writer and voyager, Tim Severin. One adventure came close to a disastrous end as their primitive boat were about to sink, and the two friends were standing in water to their waists. This harrowing, but also amazing experience on the ocean, with thousand kilometers of deep sea below and the infinite sky above, inspired Tróndur Patursun to create the art installation Cosmic Universe (2002). 


Shaped like an igloo Tróndurs universe displays itself as an exotic object on the harbour front, next to Nordatlantens Brygge and Noma. If you are curious and take of your shoes to climb into the igloo, a space of mirrors, glass and color unfolds. The painted glass walls are reflected in the floor of mirrors and the hexagon shaped mirrors that make up the roof of the igloo. The bluish space that surrounds you deepens as your image is reflected in what seems like infinite angles and depths. The immense perception in this man-made but natural scenery can in the same moment seem disturbing and calming. It's a thrilling, meditative and very sensous feeling to be in Tróndur's igloo, it's for all ages and it's for free - so get going! 

A video from inside Cosmic Universe here