Corridor III:
VALDEMAR DAA
Jenny Brockmann, Irina Birger, A/A – Andreas Greiner & Armin Keplinger, Kitty Kraus, Alicja Kwade, Helene Hellmich, huber.huber, Julian Rosefeldt, Elsa Salonen, Nika Fontaine, Scene Everything, Troika, Virginie Yassef
Exhibition curated by insitu collective
( Marie Graftieaux, Nora Mayr, Gilles Neiens, Lauren Reid)
24 June - 3 September 2017
Viborg Kunsthal, Denmark
Exhibition curated by insitu collective
( Marie Graftieaux, Nora Mayr, Gilles Neiens, Lauren Reid)
24 June - 3 September 2017
Viborg Kunsthal, Denmark
A/A (Andreas Greiner & Armin Keplinger)
A/::: (detail) 2017. Installation, signal generator, water, powder coated aluminium. Courtesy the artists, Galerie Kwadrat, Berlin. With the friendly support of Geratherm.
For Aarhus, European Capital of Culture 2017, insitu presents the culmination of an ambitious three exhibition cycle dealing with the potential of time travel. Described as Corridors each exhibition takes visitors on an unfolding narrative that provide a special exhibition-viewing experience. Corridor III: Valdemar Daa begins with a historic moment related to the legend around Valdemar Daa, whose body lies in a coffin at the Viborg Cathedral and whose story inspired the Hans Christian Andersen tale “The Story of the Wind” (1859).
Around 1660, the Danish alchemist Valdemar Daa - while depleting his family fortune in its pursuit - was convinced that he found the philosopher’s stone. Shortly after, so the story goes, the glass containing the precious liquid ruptured and smashed. He was never able to prove his discovery. The philosopher’s stone is one of the most sought-after treasures in the world of alchemy. Over hundreds of years, alchemists from the Arabic countries through to East Asia and Europe have tried to create the magical mixture said to prolong life and transform impure material into pure.
Corridor III: Valdemar Daa invites visitors to enter into a mindset where different kinds of mystical knowledge and beliefs pervaded over today’s version of science. They are taken on a journey through the mysteries of alchemy, the human faith in the potential for natural materials to hold treasures of incredible power, and one person’s obsessive search for the seemingly impossible.
This unique exhibition includes a combination of specially commissioned works of art, existing works by prominent and emerging international artists, as well as thematic artefacts from other disciplines. The artworks and artefacts are presented throughout the multi-room Kunsthal according to key concepts related to the story of Valdemar Daa: Transmutation, Obsession for the Impossible, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the History of Alchemy.
Around 1660, the Danish alchemist Valdemar Daa - while depleting his family fortune in its pursuit - was convinced that he found the philosopher’s stone. Shortly after, so the story goes, the glass containing the precious liquid ruptured and smashed. He was never able to prove his discovery. The philosopher’s stone is one of the most sought-after treasures in the world of alchemy. Over hundreds of years, alchemists from the Arabic countries through to East Asia and Europe have tried to create the magical mixture said to prolong life and transform impure material into pure.
Corridor III: Valdemar Daa invites visitors to enter into a mindset where different kinds of mystical knowledge and beliefs pervaded over today’s version of science. They are taken on a journey through the mysteries of alchemy, the human faith in the potential for natural materials to hold treasures of incredible power, and one person’s obsessive search for the seemingly impossible.
This unique exhibition includes a combination of specially commissioned works of art, existing works by prominent and emerging international artists, as well as thematic artefacts from other disciplines. The artworks and artefacts are presented throughout the multi-room Kunsthal according to key concepts related to the story of Valdemar Daa: Transmutation, Obsession for the Impossible, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the History of Alchemy.
Troika
Arcades 2012. Lenses, lights, steel, aluminium. Courtesy the artists.
Arcades 2012. Lenses, lights, steel, aluminium. Courtesy the artists.
Scene Everything
Laborious and the Wind: Three Acts of Alchemy (install view) 2017. Multimedia installation.
Courtesy the artists. Photo: Joseph Popper.
Laborious and the Wind: Three Acts of Alchemy (install view) 2017. Multimedia installation.
Courtesy the artists. Photo: Joseph Popper.
Hans Christian Andersen
Vinden fortæller om valdemar daae og hans døttre (The Story of the Wind).
First published in ‘Nye Eventyr og Historier. Tredie Samling’, 1859. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Vinden fortæller om valdemar daae og hans døttre (The Story of the Wind).
First published in ‘Nye Eventyr og Historier. Tredie Samling’, 1859. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Corridor III: Valdemar Daa (install view) 2017. Viborg Kunsthal. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Virginie Yassef
Untitled (detail) 2012. Styrofoam, magnets.
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois, Paris. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Untitled (detail) 2012. Styrofoam, magnets.
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois, Paris. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Jenny Brockmann
left: EMAG-201-17-990 (detail) 2017. Magnetic fluid, magnet, motor, light.
right: EMAG-201-17-678 (detail) 2017. Magnetic fibres, magnet, motor, light.
Courtesy the artist and Gallery Gerken, Berlin. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
left: EMAG-201-17-990 (detail) 2017. Magnetic fluid, magnet, motor, light.
right: EMAG-201-17-678 (detail) 2017. Magnetic fibres, magnet, motor, light.
Courtesy the artist and Gallery Gerken, Berlin. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Corridor III: Valdemar Daa (install view) 2017. Viborg Kunsthal. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Alicja Kwade Intransmedium 2016. Wood, bronze, books.
Courtesy the artist & kamel mennour, Paris. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Courtesy the artist & kamel mennour, Paris. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
huber.huber Achatkonstrukt, 2015/16 and Das Versprechen 2016 (install view). Courtesy the artists. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Julian Rosefeldt The Perfectionist 2005 (install view) Trilogy of Failure (Part 3). 25’ 18’’, colour, sound. Shot on Super-16mm, converted to PAL SD. Copyright Julian Rosefeldt and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2017. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Julian Rosefeldt The Perfectionist 2005 (still) Trilogy of Failure (Part 3). Colour, sound. Shot on Super-16mm, converted to PAL SD. Copyright Julian Rosefeldt and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2017.
Helene Hellmich Museum: Part 2 (Clouds) (install view) 2013 – 2017. Paper, plaster, wax, wood, display cases, floor plate, paint. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Helene Hellmich Museum: Part 2 (Clouds) (detail) 2013 – 2017. Paper, plaster, wax, wood, display cases, floor plate, paint. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Irina Birger Ouroboros or What's Eating You (still) 2016. 3D animation stills.
Courtesy the artist. Supported by Mondriaan Fonds.
Courtesy the artist. Supported by Mondriaan Fonds.
Santiago Ramón y Cajal (install view). Selection of schematic drawings, 1899.
Courtesy the Wellcome Library, London. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Courtesy the Wellcome Library, London. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Elsa Salonen Study of Eternal Cycle 2014. Dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Nika Fontaine Akash 1, Akash 6, Aleph-Shin-Mem (install view) 2017. Glitter, acrylic on stretched burlap.
Courtesy the artist and Wildpalms, Düsseldorf. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Courtesy the artist and Wildpalms, Düsseldorf. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Kitty Kraus Untitled (Light Box) 2012. Painted plywood, painted glass, 250W light bulb, cable.
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin. Photo: Kurt Nielsen.
With kind support from:
