ARKENWALK

Between Ishøj station and Arken, a series of individually shaped, artistic street lights are placed amongst the squares and streets, creating a linking identity through key nodes of the area. In some places the individual street lights group together making a collective scene while in others they stand alone. From each street light it is possible to see the next. By giving them a powerful neon red colour they will vigorously stand out from their surroundings forging a clear path through Ishoj. All together acting as a way-finding system throughout the day and night.

Unlike usual street lights, these Modified Street Lights consist of elongated, tilting, winding, rapidly rising or falling poles with wide arches, sharp bends or small loops, creating playfully interactive forms. With their modification, the street lights not only provide a guiding system and light in the dark, but also begin a dialogue with the spaces they inhabit thus promoting conversation between passers-by and viewers, lending the work to active characteristics and social qualities. At the same time, the street light has its own sculptural quality, inviting people to look at it and be guided on an art journey to and from Arken.

Benches

From investigating the architecture, communication, and social behavior in urban space, a series of bench designs were born. The bench designs borrow their basic form from the ubiquitous park or garden bench seen everywhere but are altered to various degrees making the act of sitting on them a conscious physical endeavor. With their modifications, the benches transform their surroundings into places of activity rather than rest and solitude; they foster exchange between the users and passersby, thus lending the work a social quality. Due to their alterations, the benches end up somewhere between a dysfunctional object and a functional piece of furniture, and therefore demonstrate the contradiction between artwork and functional object. 

-Jeppe Hein
 

Mirror Labyrinths

In my mirror installations the surroundings are reflected in multiple ways making space to a certain degree appear invisible. Mirrors have the ability to directly subvert and displace our experience and perception of our surroundings and ourselves. The heterogeneity of the space is increased and multiplied. Mirrors make us reflect on our own presence by addressing our physical and psychological experience of the space and our position within it. We become aware of the limitations as well as the possibilities inherent in the act of looking. Besides the mysterious qualities inherent to labyrinths and mazes, it is the reference to life that fascinates and influences me most: to search for your own way, to find diverse paths and to decide which is the right direction, left or right, to move on or go back, as well as the different people we meet along the road. The connection between the path of life and the path of a labyrinth paired with the contrast between reality and illusion is what I sense as the central theme for my mirror labyrinth works.

-Jeppe Hein

water pavilions

For me, a natural element such as water is an interesting material to use for the creation of architectural constellations. My realizations of water sculptures in public space are indicative of a “liquid architecture” which seems tangible and intangible at the same time. These water pavilions are appreciated for both the physical experience and the opportunity for active participation they offer to the public. Independent from any background, gender or age, no matter if it‘s a child or an art critic, people are encouraged to interact and communicate with the work, the surroundings, and other individuals. This can stimulate multiple reactions from amusement and curiosity to doubt, wonder and surprise. This “liquid architecture” can be considered as a social sculpture playfully inserted into everyday life situations.

-Jeppe Hein