PUBLIC ARTWORK

Kongegaardshaven, Korsør (beside Kunsthal Kongegaarden), DK     2025-2028

> Introduction text by Ida Retz Wessberg (scroll down)

© Photo by David Stjernholm

Detail: The viewer can collect the rainwater into a unique ceramic ladle (shaped like folded hands taking water). Afterwards one can water the plants in the public park, surrounding the sculpture..

Text by Ida Retz Wessberg 

For the public sculpture at Kongegaardshaven, Korsør, DK (beside Kunsthal Kongegaarden)

2025 July-2025 July

Ida Retz Wessberg

Skulptur for opsamling af regnvand (Sculpture for collecting rainwater) 

Skulpturen er i forlængelse af tidligere skulpturelle værker, hvor jeg har inddraget vand og er mit største keramiske værk til dato. Det blev påbegyndt under et research ophold på Det Danske Institut i Rom sidste år, hvor jeg undersøgte og studerede forskellige vanddesigns i det offentlige rum og parker. 

Skulpturen trækker både på referencer fra disse studier, vands symbolik, historie og betydning for mennesket og byen Korsør’s særlige relation til havet: med havn, (klima-)kystsikring og militærhavnen. Med de forskellige forløb, materialiteter, metoder og detaljer, har jeg ønsket at skabe et rum for forundring og opmærksomhed om det opsamlede vand i skulpturen - som materiale, almenmenneskelig erfaring og et livsbetingende stof i naturen. Skulpturen er færdiggjort på et residency på Statens Værksteder for Kunst 2024-2025.

En lokal vil måske bemærke det indfangede ”kys” (et sæt læber) i glaseret stentøj, som blev givet i 1771 af Dronning Caroline Mathilde til den lille dreng, som senere skulle blive den kendte lokale digter Jens Baggesen (som også skrev et digt om kysset). Den CNC-fræsede rist i rustfrit stål er lavet med afsæt i tegninger inspireret af gamle søkort. Strukturen i det øverste keramiske bassin er modelleret med inspiration fra et negativt aftryk af to østersskaller.
På metal-tanken (til opbevaring af regnvandet) ses lys-reflektioner fra mønstret i vandet, bl.a. skabt af den modellerede struktur (inspireret af tidevand) i det store keramiske kar nederst, placeret på jorden. Metaltankens form er inspireret af de lokale krigsskibes radarmaster. Det modellerede håndtag på vandhanen, er lavet i glaseret stentøj og formet efter et ”greb” i ler - og bruges når regnvandet skal aftappes. Her kan man også bruge de unikke, keramiske øser til at vande planterne omkring skulpturen.

/ English version

The sculpture is an extension of previous sculptural works where I have incorporated water and is my largest ceramic work to date. It was begun during a research stay at the Danish Institute in Rome last year, where I investigated and studied various water designs in public spaces and parks. 

The sculpture draws on references from these studies, the symbolism, history and significance of water for humans and the city of Korsør's special relationship to the sea: with the harbor, (climate) coastal defense and the military harbor. With the different processes, materialities, methods and details, I have wanted to create a space for wonder and awareness of the collected water in the sculpture - as a material, a universal human experience and a life-affirming substance in nature. The sculpture is finished at a residency at The Danish Art Workshops 2024-2025.

A local might notice the captured “kiss” (a set of lips) in glazed stoneware, given in 1771 by Queen Caroline Mathilde to the little boy who would later become the famous poet Jens Baggesen (who also wrote a poem about the kiss). The CNC-milled stainless steel grate is made based on drawings inspired by old sea charts. The structure in the upper ceramic basin is modeled with inspiration from a negative print of two oyster shells. On the metal tank (for storing rainwater), light reflections are seen from the pattern in the water, among other things created by the modeled structure (inspired by tides) in the large ceramic vessel at the bottom, placed on the ground. The shape of the metal tank is inspired by the octagoinal shape of the local warships's radar masts. The modeled handle on the faucet is made of glazed stoneware and shaped after a “grip” in clay - and is used when the rainwater is tapped. Here, you can also use the unique ceramic bowns to water the plants around the sculpture.

Thank you so much for generous support:

New Carlsberg Foundation (Ny Carlsbergfondet) & The Danish Art Workshops (Statens Værksteder for Kunst)

Kunsthal Kongegaarden and its staff, board and volunteers

The Danish Institute in Rome and its staff

Assistants and assistance: Hans von Hirsch, Mikael Jackson, Mads Bartholin Johnsen, Daito Takefusa, Andreas Lund, Bjørg Dyg Nielsen, Karen Harsbo, Victoria Grigat, Marie, Simon and all the staff at The Danish Art Workshops (Statens Værksteder for Kunst)

Colleauges, family and friends