Hypogeum by Jacob Kirkegaard: A Sound Journey Beneath Copenhagen

Hypogeum is a sonic journey into Copenhagen’s colossal sewer system by Jacob Kirkegaard; a sensuously compelling and observant mapping of an underworld known only to a few. The work is composed of recordings from the city’s subterranean stormwater tunnels, sewer pipes, pumping stations, and majestic water reservoirs with cistern-like chambers and vertical colonnades.

The event interweaves excerpts from Hypogeum, Kirkegaard’s personal anecdotes and reflections from working on the project, in conversation with Morten Meldgaard, associate professor at the Royal Danish Academy, School of Architecture, and a former collaborator of Kirkegaard. With a professional background in film and architecture, Meldgaard draws connections between the subterranean recordings and the cultural, historical and aesthetic dimensions of the city’s infrastructure.

Together with Meldgaard, Hypogeum is framed within the genre of the city portrait in film and music — from Walther Ruttmann’s Symphony of a Great City to Kirkegaard’s depiction of Copenhagen’s supply and waste systems. Taking the new work as a point of departure, the event interlaces excerpts from the piece with Kirkegaard’s reflections on his own practice, as well as shared references to portrayals of the metropolis in music, film, philosophy, and architecture.

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A heartfelt thank-you to the New Carlsberg Foundation for commissioning the work and generously lending it to the Biennial. Our gratitude also goes to Frederiksberg Fonden for making the project possible through their financial support.

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A sound piece by Jacob Kirkegaard

Year: 2025

Length: 90 min.

Language: No language

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DA:

Hypogeum er en lydlig rejse gennem Københavns kolossale kloaksystem af Jacob Kirkegaard; en sanseligt dragende og observerende kortlægning af en underverden de færreste kender til. Værket er komponeret af optagelser fra byens underjordiske skybrudstunneller, kloakrør, pumpestationer og majestætiske vandreservoirer med cisterne-lignende sale og vertikale søjlegange.

I en samtale med arkitekt og filminstruktør Morten Meldgaard tematiseres værket Hypogeum med storbyportrættet som genre indenfor film og musik. Fra Walther Ruthmanns ”Symphonie der Grossstadt” til Jacobs Kirkegaards portræt af Københavns forsyning og affaldssystemer. Med udgangspunkt i det nye værk, sammenvæver arrangementet værkuddrag, med Jacobs refleksioner over egen praksis og fælles referencer til skildringen af storbyen indenfor musik, film, filosofi og arkitektur.   

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En hjertelig tak til Ny Carlsbergfondet for at have bestilt værket og generøst udlånt det til Biennalen. Vores tak går også til Frederiksbergfonden for at gøre projektet muligt gennem deres økonomiske støtte.

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Et lydværk af Jacob Kirkegaard

År: 2025

Varighed: 90 min.

Sprog: Intet sprog (lydværk)