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All Denmark Frederiksberg Cisternerne

Cisternerne

A 19th-century subterranean reservoir repurposed as a contemporary art cave.

Frederiksberg, Denmark

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Akemi
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Ingmar Cronhammar’s 2015 exhibition in the Cisternerne, “H.”   Nigel Burgher
Ingmar Cronhammar’s 2015 exhibition in the Cisternerne, “H.”   Nigel Burgher
Ingmar Cronhammar’s 2015 exhibition in the Cisternerne, “H.”   Nigel Burgher
The Cisternerne pyramids.   discosour
An engraving of the Cisternerne when it was Copenhagen’s drinking water reservoir, circa 1865.   Georg Emil Libert
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Layout of Art Installation   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Glass pyramid entrance   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Location no. 17 on map   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Exhibition by Chiharu Shiota in 2022   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Exhibition by Chiharu Shiota in 2022   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Exhibition by Chiharu Shiota in 2022   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
A digital projection by artist Eva Koch.   Imeka / Atlas Obscura User
Entry to the Cisternerne.   Imeka / Atlas Obscura User
The cisterns are primarily lit by candlelight.   Imeka / Atlas Obscura User
  mossgazer / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Museum entrance. The museum is located in the center of Frederiksberg Slot, just across from the palace.   Imeka / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Some of the most avant-garde contemporary art in Copenhagen is quite literally underground.

Cisternerne is an old subterranean reservoir that supplied drinking water to all of Copenhagen from the 1850s until the 1930s, and also doubled as a reflection pool for the nearby Frederiksberg Castle. When the cisterns were finally drained and covered in 1981, they were used as an exhibition space for modern glass art for a decade before they were adopted into the Frederiksberg Museum.

Today, Cisternerne, which lies below the grounds of Søndermarken park, functions as a multimedia installation space. The only indication of its presence are the two towering glass pyramids that mark its entrance and exit points. When you descend into the dripstone cave (the only one of its kind in Denmark), the atmosphere changes drastically. The air is typically at 100 percent humidity, but the temperature is usually a cool 47˚F. Impressive stalactites and stalagmites extend from the floor and ceiling, but it's the art people come to see in this unique setting.

The Frederiksberg Museum commissions an artist to create an exhibition for Cisternerne every year. The artists use the unusual cavern setting—along with its darkness, humidity, and reverberant acoustics—to create equally unusual art. The dark, dank series of tunnels prove to be an excellent, if sometimes creepy, backdrop for light and video installations. Past installations include a mossy replica of a Japanese shrine by Hiroshi Sambuichi.

Related Tags

Underground Caves Art Museums And Collections Museums Subterranean Subterranean Sites Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

The entrance to Cisternerne is located in Søndermarken just across from Frederiksberg Palace and the Copenhagen Zoo. The entry is located in a pyramid of glass (see photo). As the cisterns are naturally very damp, waterproof shoes are highly recommended. Also be prepared for a temperature drop once down in the tunnels, and be aware of the presence of lye in the water.

Community Contributors

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Imeka

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Molly McBride Jacobson, jaffedrj, catrinebollerslev, SEANETTA...

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • jaffedrj
  • catrinebollerslev
  • SEANETTA
  • mossgazer
  • Johan SWE

Published

March 17, 2017

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisternerne
Cisternerne
Cisternerne i Søndermarken
Frederiksberg
Denmark
55.669495, 12.524899
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