The old town hall in Thisted
Thisted, DK – 2014
B3 sailcloth lamps
New loft gallery in the newly renovated historic building. In collaboration with Real Dania
Textile designer Annemette Bech
Aarhus, DK – 2014
Structure
Knitted Metal Sculpture on Leaf-Gold Wall
The Regional Council Chamber
Viborg, DK – 2006
The Ceiling
Commission won in prequalification round and ordered by the Regional Council in Viborg.
400 m2 round ceiling decoration on brown fire retardant sail cloth decorated with gold-, silver & copper-leaves, oil crayons & optical fibers. Implemented in cooperation with Architects SHL, Aarhus, DK
Danisco A/S
Edwin Rahrsvej, Aarhus, DK – 2004
Sign
Decoration to the entrance area. In collaboration with Architects SHL, Aarhus, DK. Recycled slate stones on silver leaf coated MDF
Vipp A/S
Cph. DK – 2002/2004
Carpets
4 textile pieces & a moulded paper jar with copper leaf inner side
Aarhus Tech
Aarhus, DK – 1997
Alfons Aaberg & His Dad
Commissioned by the City Council of Aarhus and chosen in a pre-qualification round. The work consists of two panels the largest on 600 x 80 cm connects two levels. Weaving technique with 16 mm film strips from a children’s film on warp of side-radiant optical fibers
Skejby University Hospital
Aarhus, Denmark – 1996
Decoration of stairway area on Department Y at Skejby University Hospital – chosen in a pre-qualification round. One large woven piece of 24 m2 and a smaller one with light placed on a curved wall
Testrup Hoejskole
Maarslet, DK – 1994
Flores
Land Art – originally placed on the large lawn and later moved to the front of a new music- & theatre hall designed by Architect SHL, Aarhus, DK
Commissioned Art
Before a decoration is done and the champagne is flowing there has been a large and carefully planned process with clarification of overall factors such as economics,
transport, climate, durability, cleaning, risk of vandalism, cooperation, time factors, responsibility, etc.
When it’s in place, the creative process for the artist begins – in Birgit Østergaard’s case, it always happens in close dialogue with the architect and the client.
Usually, a model of the space / area is being worked out, based on careful review of the overall architecture, drawings, use of the building, history and the visions of architect and client. In addition, financial management and compliance with time spent in relation to delivery of the completed project. All processes require diligence, precision and a creative perspective.
Artistic practice
Artistic Practice in commissioned art by Birgit Østergaard originates from the daily work in the studio and is an ongoing process – almost like working in a laboratory.
“Inspiration can come from anywhere but I tend to work my way into a material and a theme to the point where I really know what I’m dealing with – in all aspects. In commissioned art, the ideas usually arise in dialogue with the architect and the customer, but the ways and ways of creativity are not always easy to control in a fairly open process” – she says.
Artistic expression
In recent years, Birgit Østergaard immersed herself in the development of an artistic expression with high-tech lighting equipment such as RGB-controlled LEDs and fiber optics.
The construction of conceptual sculptures and two-dimensional works where the colors originate from the electric light are to express a modernity of universal character. Objects equipped with light seem to have more lives due to the rhythmically changing daylight and as such the work is perceived as a constant pulsating stream of moments.
“What would I feel if I dropped past sometime tonight?” – she says.