Light and water interact in different ways, creating reflections, refractions, diffusion, and absorption. In a Danish context, water is a familiar presence, deeply embedded in the collective imagination as a livelihood and a way of life, an opportunity and a threat.

The book Light & Water explores Dorte Mandrup’s artistic philosophy and architectural practice through the lens of light and water as fundamental forces shaping architecture, landscape, and place. Bringing together texts by Solvej Balle, Inger Christensen, Signe Gjessing, Kirsten Hastrup, and Michael Stoltze, representing diverse creative and scientific disciplines, alongside large-format analogue photographs by Dorte Mandrup’s long-standing collaborator, architectural photographer Adam Mørk, the publication examines light and water from a distinctly Danish perspective.

Join us at Copenhagen Contemporary for the launch of Light & Water, featuring a conversation about the making of the book and the ideas behind it.

Architectural photographer Adam Mørk will share insights into his photographic approach, using an analogue 4×5-inch large-format camera to capture the relationship between architecture, light, and water across diverse landscapes. He will be joined by art director and graphic designer Hans Munk and managing editor Jeppe Sengupta Carstensen for a conversation about the creative process behind the publication, from its visual identity and graphic design to the selection and curation of texts that bring different perspectives on light and water into dialogue.

The event will also feature a speech by Dorte Mandrup and CC director Marie Laurberg as well as a reading by poet Signe Gjessing, whose contribution to the book offers a poetic perspective on its central themes.

The event is in Danish.