The history of the Art Towers
When visual artist Hans Kjær read in the local newspaper that Langeland’s old, now disused transformer towers were to be demolished, he had a brilliant idea – an idea that would go on to become Denmark’s longest art exhibition.
A tower of possibilities
As early as the 1980s, work had begun on demolishing the transformer towers, as the power station had started to bury the power lines underground, rather than having them strung across the landscape in wires from transformer tower to transformer tower.
Admittedly, both the Langeland and Strynø Conservation Society and the then museum curator, Helle Ravn, tried to raise awareness of the conservation value of the pylons, which on Langeland represent three distinct periods of construction. But there was no money to maintain the structures – unless a purpose could be found for the pylons.
With a floor area of two and a quarter square metres and a ceiling height of eight metres, creative thinking was required if the remaining part of the island’s 80 original transformer towers was to be saved. And that was when Hans Kjær suggested: Why not convert the towers into a different kind of art exhibition?
The logic behind the madness
The director of Langelands Elforsyning, now Ø/Strøm, thought the idea was obvious, but unfortunately the power station’s board of directors wasn’t in the least bit interested. Kjær therefore suggested that he rent three towers for a two-year period. The rent was 0 kroner, but this arrangement provided a degree of security for both the artist and the board.
After the two contractual years, even the board of the power station could see the sense in the madness. This meant that the number of art towers was increased to six. And in 2010, when Langelands Elforsyning celebrated its 100th anniversary, the number rose to twelve towers. A fitting number, thinks Hans Kjær, who is also pleased with their locations, stretching from the northernmost to the southernmost parts of Langeland.
The art towers are the artists’ gift to Langeland.Hans Kjær
Art as a gift
Ideally, each artist has a tower for three years, after which the contents are replaced and a new artist is given the opportunity to express themselves. Without pay, admittedly. Hans Kjær calls the towers The Artists’ Gift to Langeland.
In themselves, the transformer towers are a piece of Danish cultural history. They have stood across the country, supporting the vital power lines that ensured we could simply flick a switch to have light in our homes or heat in our cookers.
