A Journey into the Deep – The New Atlantics Experience

Text by: Christina – Photo: Henrik Sørensen, copyright

On a cool January afternoon, with the winter cold still biting my cheeks, I step into Kunsthal Aarhus to experience New Atlantics by Marie Kølbæk Iversen.

I take one step at a time down the stairs leading to the exhibition, with the heavy curtain in front of me hanging like a door to another world.

As I pull the curtain aside and step inside, I am immediately enveloped in a deep blue atmosphere. The room is dim, with large screens casting shades of blue, purple and green into the darkness, as if I were beneath the surface of the sea.

The senses take control

In the middle of the room are several large canvases positioned at different angles, almost as if they were floating freely in the water. On the screens, images of the seabed and seaweed billowing in the current glide past.

A film catches my attention. On the screen, a crab struggles to free itself from the seabed. I can follow every movement of its laborious work as it slowly digs its way out. It takes time, but I remain captivated by the details of the shifting sand and the rhythmic movement of the crab’s claws. The process is almost hypnotic—a silent reminder of life’s small transformations that happen whether we notice them or not.

The images are not taken from distant oceans – they are recordings from Aarhus Bay and Kalø Vig. Seeing the local waters on the screens makes the experience even more present. It is not just an abstract story about the sea. It is here, just outside the city, right where we ourselves take walks along the coast, swim in the summer and look out over the waves without knowing what is hiding beneath the surface.

The light, the sounds and the atmosphere

The light projections not only spread across the canvases, but also reflect down onto the floor, making it feel like I'm walking on an underwater surface. The mood changes depending on where I stand. In some places the colors are dark and intense, almost claustrophobic, while in others they open up and give a sense of infinity.

A space that leaves something in the body

It's not an exhibition you just look at and move on from. New Atlantics takes hold of you.

When I pull the curtain aside again and step out into the daylight, the city suddenly feels a little different. The sounds seem sharper, the air cooler, and my thoughts still revolve around the sea.

I look down at a puddle in the gutter. I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought before, but now it makes me think about all the life that exists below the ocean's surface – about the slow transformations that happen without us noticing.

Next time I go for a walk by the beach, I'll probably stay a little longer.

Because perhaps the sea has more to tell than we think.

You can experience New Atlantics by artist Marie Kølbæk Iversen from January 24 to March 30, 2025 in Aarhus Art Hall.

New Atlantics delves into themes such as climate and ocean death, loss and transformation. You can experience new underwater footage from Aarhus Bay and Kalø Vig, providing a unique insight into the changes in the ocean and the life that hides beneath the surface.