Beneath the Torminbrücke, a secret awaits. It’s a secret sung in two voices. This is Susan Philipsz’s “The Lost Reflection”. It’s an invisible sculpture. It transforms public space into a sculptural experience.
The year was 2007. The Skulptur Projekte sought to redefine public sculpture. Philipsz answered with sound. She used her own voice. She sings the barcarole from Jacques Offenbach’s opera “The Tales of Hoffmann”. You can hear it beneath the Torminbrücke. Speakers mounted on opposite sides of the river play the recording.
Philipsz’s duet creates a new space. This space exists only through sound. The aria evokes emotion. It speaks of romantic tales and Venetian nights. Love and passion fill the air. The location’s meaning deepens.
Listen closely on Sundays. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the aria plays. At other times, the artwork is largely invisible. The symmetrical architecture of the bridge enhances the experience. It’s reminiscent of a vault. Light reflections from the water dance. They produce fleeting impressions.
Searching for a visual presence is futile. Only the bridge’s concrete surface is visible. The lakeshore and water are all you see. There’s no object. Only a suggestion of a modernist stage set remains. Philipsz alludes to post-expressionist stage architecture. It recalls the film musical “The Tales of Hoffmann”. In the film, Giulietta sings a duet with her mirror image. She later steals Hoffmann’s reflection.
“The Lost Reflection” challenges traditional sculptural concepts. Philipsz explores sound’s physical aspects. The voice’s carrier is absent. Yet, it structures the installation. Sound defines a space. Time delimits and rhythmizes it.
This artwork creates a fragile perception. It sparks a search for presence. An intangible space emerges. It bridges the distance to the other shore. Then, it abruptly vanishes. Mirroring and repetition play on the site. The artificial landscaping reflects a romantic lake. Lake Aa was planned in the late 19th century. It was built on swampland.
The city regularly flooded before its creation. Construction finished in the 1930s. Today, it’s a main attraction. “The Lost Reflection” offers a unique experience. It’s a blend of sound, space, and emotion. It invites you to listen and reflect. It encourages you to discover the hidden dimensions of this familiar place. The lost reflection is not truly lost. It’s found in the echoes of the past.