Kunsthalle unterwegs: Antonia Alessia Virginia Beeskow. Tsukumogami

As part of the“Kunsthalle unterwegs”project series, the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf will be a guest at the Raketenfestival at the Hombroich Rocket Station in September 2026 with a project by artist Antonia Alessia Virginia Beeskow. 

“Tsukumogami”conjures a rumbling sound from the movement generated by the acoustic measurement data of a spectrogram. These data display the frequency of a sound in relation to time, resulting in hatched curves and lines. Beeskow uses these sound drawings as electrical impulses to pluck the strings of a concert zither, which stands at the center of the work. In the process, the instrument appears to play on its own, evoking the notion that a spirit is present in the room. 

The idea of animated objects is found, among other places, in Japanese folklore, to which the title refers. Tsukumogami areforgotten objects that come to life as yōkai (yes, spirits) and, through their haunting, evoke a nostalgic longing. At the same time, the belief inthe “animated object”is reflected in the pursuit of artificially generated art through processed voices, sounds, and images that promote speed and efficiency,“enhanced workflows,”andthe democratization of art. Beeskow picks up on these threads and weaves them together in a sound composition for a forgotten stringed instrument. 

The Raketenfestival will take place for the third time on September 13, 2026, at the Hombroich Rocket Station in Neuss. The event is organized by the Insel Hombroich Foundation and curated by artist Miki Yui and musician Stefan Schneider. Contemporary forms of sound art, experimental, electronic, and improvised music merge here with nature and architecture to create a holistic sensory experience.