Tvísöngur, 2012
Tvísöngur is both a monumental work of art and a place open to the community, which Lukas Kühne designed to be built on the side of a mountain massif with a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. This sculpture consists of five interconnected concrete domes and is dedicated to exploring the relationship between space, sound and frequencies. The heights of the domes vary between two and four metres and together they occupy an area of approximately thirty square metres. Each dome has its own resonance, which corresponds to a single note of Icelandic five-note harmony firmly rooted in the local musical tradition (tvísöngur), and acts as a natural amplifier. The sculpture can thus be seen as a visualisation of this specific sound cultural form. The circular shape is chosen for its acoustic properties and its visual function in the landscape, resulting in a unique combination that affects visual and auditory perception. The artist offers this captivating object for use by all visitors as a space to meet and create and experience sounds together. Tvísöngur is built on a site overlooking the fjord and the town of Seyðisfjörður, but far enough to enjoy the distance from both – inviting to solitary or collective contemplation of nature, place, sound, silence and oneself as part of these.
In the context of the exhibition Gardening of Soul: Introduction, Lukas Kühne’s Tvísöngur project is understood as a specific way of creating a metaphorical garden based on Iceland’s geographical conditions – a place of harmony with the surrounding nature that fundamentally shapes its character. The exhibition presentation also includes a visual simulation of sound travelling through the sculpture, created by Oliver McIntyre, and a sound-piece made directly involving the object Tvísöngur, which was realised by Jan Krtička in collaboration with Polish musicians Joanna Skowrońska and Rafał Kołacki during his residency at Skaftfell Art Center.
The Tvísöngur project was realised in collaboration with the Goethe Institut Denmark, the municipality of Seyðisfjörður and Skaftfell Art Center.
Lukas Kühne and Julia Martin with contribution by Michal Koleček