A subterranean must see in Cph: Sambuichi 'the Water'

Very close to where I live, an old system of underground water reservoirs have become an art space, some years back - and every year Cisternerne present a new wild and overwhelming installation, created specifically for this cavern-like dark and wet space, hiding secretly under the park clad hill by the castle, that I have written about before.

This year it is the Japanese architect Hiroshi Sambuichi, who has created the installation. It's called 'the Water'. I went to see it yesterday, and it was so incredibly beautiful. My absolute warmest recommendations, to anyone living in or going to Copenhagen, and it will be there until February 2018, so no need to rush.

Yesterday was a sunny day, and this is a really dark experience, in the literal sense of the word. You crawl down the narrow stairs to an almost physically tangible pitch black nothing at first - all you sense around you is this cool and drippingly wet cavern and an almost overwhelming scent of fresh cedar and cypress wood - and the peculiar, metallic smell of wetness. Blinded by this sudden shift from blazing spring sun to underground cave, I almost crawled into the space. I couldn't see a thing.

But then the most elegant and mysterious world started to materialize before my eyes - like a dark forest or an underwater shrine. The whole space is transversed by elevated, cedarwood walkways in traditional Japanese style, and here and there they lead you to surprising vistas; the lantern lit curve of a bridge, an island of deliciously green fresh moss. Sudden pillars of natural sunlight, led underground by intricate mirrors. And constantly the sound of dripping water.

It was actually a bit hopeless to photograph, except in the parts where you could see, by sunlight - the semi-dark places just couldn't be done any justice by a camera. Go see for yourself, it's great! 

Links and info after the images.

There were a lot of references to traditional Japanese architecture and to their perception of the elements - and of course some philosophical layers in the whole concept of the installation, which will grow and evolve as nature wills it, in the period it's there. Read about the whole thing here on the Cisternerne (as the place is called) website.

In the heart of the space there is a very, very dark area, where a different kind of rope line the walkways, and seem to border off a kind of center of the grid - where apparently nothing is - but I saw that the rope was the very rough, handmade hemp kind, that you see around shinto temples, and that white strips were hanging from them. I actually had to take a blitz photo to establish this.

There was something that felt very magical about this roped off centre, and I am sure that the kami were abundant there. I could almost not bring myself to leave, but in the end I was freezing (bring a sweater!) and had to get back up into the sun. To be blinded all over again. 

Blue Origami Diamonds - and a Cph shopping tip

These origami diamonds have been a slight obsession for me and a couple of my girlfriends. We started making them only recently, and they are addictive! Once you begin, you just get into the weird origami flow and only the fact that sometimes you run out of paper, seems to stop you. My friend had made a 146 of them the other day, and then decided to loose count there and then. She says they are just for decorating her tree - so I hope to get a nice picture to post here, because that sounds cool!

They are the simplest kind of modular origami: two sheets to make one diamond. I spotted them on YouTube some time ago, and thought they would be nice if you made them in lots of different patterns, but essentially in just one color. 

If you like my single color idea, I designed you a set of blue shades origami squares! They are also only 11 x 11 cm. (most origami papers are 15 x 15 cm.) and that makes a nice size for the ornament. I punched a hole with a needle through the tip and put some loops of bright blue makramé string in (they do this slightly differently in the video, but my way is easier).

Blue origami squares, get the PDF and print them on thin ordinary paper (80 gr. works well).

2021: I have a new location for my downloads, please go here:
Design 1  /  Design 2  /  Design 3  /  Design 4 

And here is the easy to follow tutorial video on YouTube

I made a batch of these for the annual Christmas Market in the local weaving workshop, if you just simply cannot be bothered to make them yourself.

This market is really, really worth checking out, if you are anywhere near my neighbourhood, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. It is the tenth anniversary og the workshop this year, and they have invited lots of guests to join the market - you will find everything handwoven, from large rugs to feather light cashmere scarves, and everything else textile: Pillows, tea cosies, shibori dyed silk, hand knitted fashion items, and much much more. Everything in superior quality, investment pieces at a bargain price all handmade by some of the best weavers and textile designers in town! There are also graphic prints, silver jewellery, glass and ceramic pieces - and lots of inexpensive little Christmas knick knacks (such as my origami) in paper, porcelain, felt, plastic and so on.

This is where you'll find the workshop, at Smallegade in Copenhagen

Tourist in my own town

I live only a ten minute bicycle ride from this beautiful baroque building, Frederiksberg Slot. It is splendidly situated atop a hill, in what is our local city park today, but used to be peaceful countryside, in 1703, when it was established. It was built as a humble country getaway by the king Frederik IV, and has been extended from the original one wing (which used to be red!) to a much larger building with an inner courtyard, and even a small chapel. 

Ochre yellow and serene, it sits up there, as a powerful focal point in my local neighbourhood. We use the park a lot, for jogging, ice skating (there is a free skating rink at Frederiksberg Runddel from November to March) and of course for doing nothing at all. There is a cosy little playground as well.

There is an awful lot to say about this charming park, but I will share a little tip with you, that may not get into the official tourist guides. If you visit, you may bump into 'Hejremanden' - The Heron Man. He is there practically every day, all year round, talking to the many herons in the park and feeding them yummy fish snacks. He is a bit of a local legend, and we love to sit a little bit away (herons are very large and slightly nervous creatures!) and watch his quiet, patient interaction with the birds.

But back to Frederiksberg Slot: since 1869 it has housed the Danish Army Officers Academy, and every last Saturday each month, you can take a guided tour with one of the school cadets. Last week I, and two friends, finally got around to it, and it was a charming experience. 

The building itself is impressive, and once you get inside, it is a funny mix of modern (or, actually, not so modern!) school equipment, and priceless historical paintings, chandeliers and such. Parts of the palace is under restoration, so some of the rooms have fresh, gently restored colours and trompe l'oeil paintings, boldly paired with sci-fi style Luceplan lamps! The cadets who do the tours are far from being art historians, and they will give you a very personal and fun tour - and will do so in English, if you ask for it! The view from the roof balcony must be one of the most spectacular in all of Copenhagen, so if not for anything else, I will recommend it only for that!

Here are some of my snapshots.....