Transcendental images and spiritual symbols in the millennium epoch of Hollywood films - 
studies of religious signs and symbols in films By Birgitte Moos, 2002    
    
                                                                  'An inner constitution becomes a concrete outer'
                                                                                                                          Shakespeare        
 
During the change of époque and within the new century, significant changes appear in the visual media
regarding filmmaking. Computer modeling techniques makes it possible to generate images of until recently unseen character. It is a newer tool in the toolbox of a Production Designer.          
Film is such a new art form, that at that time where movies appeared in, it automatically moved itself into
an atheistic epoch; characterized by the belief in nature science and instruments. In newer films created in
the years around the millennium, I see a tendency of expressing more spiritual content than ever before in
that part of film history, which is tied to Hollywood.Perhaps that is because the transition to year 2000 has in several hundred of years stood out as an ultimate critical moment for manhood. That moment is built up through time with prophecies of Judgment Day simultaneously with visions of a better world.As a popular medium, the film is a credible measurement of consciousness within populations. One can also assume that film can have the effect on people as being catalysator of change of consciousness.          
I am methodically researching on a number of films, with the focus on used religious and spiritual signs and symbols in these films.
The selected films are all created from during 2000 until now. The selection and limitation of films are also decided out of criteria of high visual aesthetic, digital treatment and being produced in Hollywood.          

Problem description
We are living in the dream society, where information technology and digital media feeds dreams and leaves space for self-forgetting and self-absorption. The entrance to film on the net is almost unlimited for every single up coupled human. Always on the highway to paradise.Here it seems that religion and remarkably spirituality gets increased interests amongst present humans, and that seems to be reflected in filmmaking.
The two conceptions have different meaning. Generally I would nail that religiousness is about conducting oneself with the holy and powers: spirits, demons, gods, laws, and ideals. Identification with a set of man given parameters. In spiritually its considered that existence is of a character of a completeness that transcends beyond human itself.  
Religion and spirituality has different signs and symbols. The symbol is for example an image of something familiar, but also the carrier of something vague, and universal truths. The spirit shown through the symbol, for example Jesus Christ, is the image, which makes the human grasp what lies beyond its ability for the understandable. During an investigation of the meaning of a symbol, transcendent imaginations appear and the common sense must capitulate. The cognitive value of symbols lies beneath the rational sense of perception. The German word for symbol is ´sinnbild´, which means emblem. Has the picture the potency of revelation”?

I will try to categorize symbols out from different theoretical entrance angles. There are several definitions of what a symbol is and attempts of categorizations amongst others by Hegel, Goethe and Jolande Jacoby.The Swiss Psychologist Carl Gustav Jung’s works about archetypes have created a fundament of interpretation of symbols in the West, while works of the contemporary American Philosopher Ken Wilbur does in my interpretation feed the ideas of that, there exist Jungian archetypes, but also transpersonal archetypes. The archetypes must in this context be used in the connection to symbols. Ken Wilbur is by C. G. Jung’s former assistant described as the Thomas Aquinas of our days. Thomas Aquinas has in `! Sent prolog 9.1.a.v`. 4, said that Theology ought to be expressed in a manner that is metaphorical, symbolic and parabolic”. What a beautiful picture.Ken Wilber works at developing a new kind of science; a spiritual science, where science and religion becomes integrated.

I will try to pursue these new thoughts and try to involve them in future research. Carl Gustav Jung is known for his re-interpretation of religion as symbolic, and his symbol interpretations include the world’s main religions and some esoteric traditions. In Jung’s symbol language is it not necessarily the symbol in itself, but also symbolic productions, which are expressions of religious and spiritual consciousness.          
Myth critique gives a third point of view to the studies of religious symbols. Myth critique defines religion broadly unlike than what for example theologians do. Myth critique opens up for a broader study of religious symbols, since a mythological approach reads symbols as transcending, cultural and individual traditions into universal symbols!
The analysis goes into and behind some of the Westerns cultures scientific world understandings and science results. Cosmology is the teaching about the universe and implicit that, has always been a wondering about the mankind’s placement in the universe. Especially the Western cultures´ materialistic and mental development, have possibly reached a point of state where the spirit expands into a spiritual/religious cosmology. Detached from the scientific doctrines about the universe, exists an own mythic cosmology, which involves myths, gods, souls, intelligences and a metaphysical God.

Method
These investigations are part of a Ph.D. proposal that I gave in to The National Danish College in Copenhagen in the year 2002. The Ph.D. was declined based on the assumption that the content lacked sufficient scientifically. The academic paradox is self evident with reference to the subject matter: How to define and prove the numinous.I am still curious about above described subjects and will involve following methodic researches in a far deeper analysis of 'The Matrix' trilogy and other films. The field of problems lies within pinning down, defining and classifying the symbolic image language of the
chosen films. What is interesting is also how the designer through methodic work, transforms soul full content into a filmic work. In other words the ability to vitalize a symbol into a scene through the use of images.
The plan is to analyze every single film, finding the religious/spiritual symbols. Then separate digital designed symbols from ´traditionally graphic and manually on set designed symbols. Categorizing
common trades and differences.My intention is to research and analyze on the topic if cg images gives a greater opportunity for visualization of symbols, where the impression gives the wiever a stronger sensation of the old alchemistic principle “spirit in the matter”. In other words, Figuring out, if  cg design, gives ability of creating symbols with intensified transcendental qualities.
In my consideration of how signs and symbols appears, I will try to point out and define religious and spiritual signs and symbols, and the term symbol has to be examined and clearly as possibly defined. For example by describing when is a symbol is a religious symbol. Where the symbol comes from, and what it means in a given film and in its original context.

The term deconstruction, defined in 1968, by Jaques Derrida, can perhaps be found as a parameter of measuring modern fusion symbols, where different religions and belief systems are mixed together, or up, if one dare to say so. Describing different types of symbols, such as in which forms they are represented: Either graphicly designed or concrete beliefs objects such as statues, altarpieces, ikons, crosses, animals, plants or when are the symbols hidden and subtle.
A discussion of the fundamental concept; the concrete, is essential in this context, in an attempt of organising a system.
In investigation parameters and methods, an attempt of narrowing the contempt arise through the use of shape definitions such as style, color, light, materiality and immateriality.It would be interesting to typologylize films in such genres as pluralism, mythological, Theological, violent, non violent (the good versus evil). Designtools applied; digitalization, hand drawn, built in reality, mixed media. Religious, phenomenaligycal, psycological and philosophic angles of wievpoints should be considered.
The research methods should implicit reflect, that we are dealing with complex issues in a multifaceted time. Speculations of how modern media – film and computer – can bring about symbolic images, is also a question which is illuminated by questioning the wievers experience of intensity in comparison to the image layers deeper content and in comparison to applied technologies.
I am analyzing different computer software used for image manipulation creating religious and spiritual symbols. My investigations will end up with new categorizations of religious sign and symbolic expressions within different filmic genres. I expect the new insights and content will be published in a compendium, which is addressed to design and film students, workers in the fields
and other interested readers. The compendium would hopefully be a valuable learning tool about design processes and the use of symbolic language, helping readers to work goal oriented and consciously with image communication in films.
My intent is to be part taking in what lies within the development of the field of Production Design, by uncovering different use of symbol visualization.On good and bad the film as popular medium is both a measurement and creator of values and belief directions amongst the audience. Homogenic visual expressions, applied in complex contexts and abstract perception coupled to symbolic shapes, should at its best have mutual interaction. These are circumstances which results shows the level of conscious activity during the process of creation, reflected by the emotional level of involvement and resonance by an audience watching the film.        

Systematically the working method will consist of following in same order: 
Eksamination of chosen films          
Scanning symbols in the films and reading literature          
Classification of films signs and symbols          
Development analysis parameters          
Grading films and symbols in categories

Temporary film list of interest          
The Fountain. 2006. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, production design by James Chinlund.          
The Matrix trilogy. 1999 - 2003. Directed by Andy Wachowski og Larry Wachowski, production design by Omen Paterson.          
Solaris. 2002. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, production design by Phil Messina.          
Signs. 2002. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, produktions design by Larry Fulton.          
Minority Report. 2002. Directed by Steven Spielberg, production design by Alex McDowell.          
Starwars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. 2002. Directed by George Lucas, production design by Doug Chiang.          
Moulin Rouge. 2000. Directed by Baz Luhrman, production design by Catherine Martin.          
The Cell. 2000. Directed by Tarsem Singh, production design by Tom Foden.

Amongst selected films, 'The Matrix' is an example of films with content of religious, transcendent and spiritual symbols. Just to mention one scene from the first 'Matrix' film: The main character Neo is consecrated through symbolic divinity. As he is poured over by gold, I mean there are references to the goldenly imaginations of the ancient Antique. This film is a technological masterpiece, studded with visual effects, aesthetic and the use of cg. The visual effects percolate razor-sharp the abstract symbolic levels.
The film 'The Cell' includes a series of tableaux that depict captivating surrealist landscapes and spectacular imagery depicting the fantasy worlds. A truth seeking white angel, a boat in the sand and a serial killer in a cellar with many rooms. The room of the self is golden. An 8th victim in a glass water tank, that slowly fills with water. The number 8 has different religious meanings, for example
corresponding to baptism, the water and new birth. 'Moulin Rouge' is a film, telling the merciless separation between spirituality and desire, the cabaret is transformed to a golden hinduistic, sacred space. 'Star wars: episode II Attack of the Clones 2002' contains symbolism in abundance. For example dark dry landscapes with Anakins anger facing a setting sun. The disappearing sun leaving behind spiritual darkness. 'Minority Report' is a SFX visually stunning film, with integrated elaborate examples of computer effects that are rich in spiritual content.


My own background and qualifications
My professional and personal interests have to a considerable extent circled about symbols and accomplishment of knowledge about complicated designing processes, meanings and expressions. During studies at Roskilde University, I worked at a project about creative processes of creation, with the focus on religious symbols. My thesis from The National Design School of Denmark was on The 'Hamletmachine', written by Heiner Muller in 1979. The text lets Hamlet become interlaced with European culture and thrown from the past out through the future through time epochs and intertextual references, gaining awareness on the journey.
Furthermore during my studies at The University of Arts in Berlin, by Professor Achim Freyer, I worked on the play 'Oedipus', transforming the textual content to images of ramshackle abstract ruins and heavenly openings. In Berlin I also worked, as a part of my investigation of Oedipus, as a Set Designer Assistant for my professor, at Deutshes Theatre. On the side, designing alternative
set design concepts with the focus on the spiral symbol as a mental image of primeval processes and development. Also working with Bertolt Brechts play 'The Holy Johanna of the Slaughterhouse', where my set design turned out as a huge horizontal cross, which had the function of bridges between different horizontal movable spaces. The shape of the cross also appears in the performance 'Agnes of God'. In this variant vertically placed.
In my earlier work, 2000-2001, as a Lead Designer for the media concern Tristone, I developed designs for virtual worlds for computer games and interactive entertainment for television, and created universes strongly inspired by Greek mythology, Chinese religions and Greenlandic rituals.
In 2003, as an Artist in Residence at University of Southern California, Department of Film and TV at the Division of Animation and Digital Arts. The stay let me execute own design projects, participate in Lectures and screenings of relevant films and workshops connected to courses in computer software such as Alias/Wavefront Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere and After Effects as well as MacroMedia, Director and Dreamweaver. Including interaktive animation, stereoscopic animation and virtual reality. That postgraduate research was a natural follow up on my intent of writing a Ph.D. and interest in new digital media and their usability regarding design for film.

Literature list          
Barry Taylor: Entertainment Theology: New-Edge Spirituality in a Digital Democracy. Cultural Exegesis, 2008          
C.G. Jung: Collected Works of C.G. Jung. Princeton University Press. Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1953-78          
John R. May (Editor): New Image of Religious Film. Sheed & Ward, 1997          
Clive Marsh and Gaye Ortiz (Editors): Explorations in Theology and Film: Movies and Meaning. Oxford: Blackbell Publishers 1997          
Don Tapscott: Growing up digital, The Rise of the Net Generation. New York: MacGraw-Hill, 1998          
Martin Esslin: The Field of Drama: How the Signs of Drama create meaning on Stage and Screen. London: Methuen, 1987          
Michael Paul Gallagher: Clashing Symbols. Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd, 2003          
Rolf Jensen: Dream Society. McGraw-Hill, 2001          
Jean Baudrillards Simulacra and Simulations. University of Michigan Press, 1995          
Hegel: Science of wisdom. St. Augustines Press, 2000          
Eugene C. Kennedy (Editor): Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor by Joseph Campbell. New World  Library, 2001          
Caroline W. Bynum: Gender and Religion: On the complexity of Symbols. Beacon Pr., 1988        
James Bonnet: Stealing Fire from the Gods: A Dynamic New Story Model for Writers and Filmmakers. Michael Wiese Productions, 1999          
Hillel Schwartz: Century's End. Barnes and Noble, 1999          
Joseph Campbell: The hero with a thousand faces. Princeton University Press; 2nd edition,1972          
Pia Skogemann: Religion og symbol – C.G. Jungs religionspsykologi. Borgens Forlag, 1988.        
Brenda Laurel. Computers as Theatre. Addison-Wesley Professional, 1993          
Lars Bo Kimergård og Lars Mathiasen: Manuskript og dramaturgi. Av-kompendium # 3,3 udg. Institut for Film–og Medievidenskab, 2000          
Ken Wilbur: Eye to eye - The quest for the new paradigm. Shambhala; 3 Revised edition, 2001

Dec 4, 2007 - REUTERS


Lacy Studio Lofts, New Urban Residences for Creative Angelenos, to Open in December 

"Lacy Studio Lofts, New Urban Residences for Creative Angelenos, to Open in December in
Historic Lincoln Heights Spacious New Lofts Transform Blighted Properties into Artistic Nexus
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Environments of Hollywood...
...The Grand Opening of Lacy Studio Lofts Stars of L.A.'s contemporary arts world will be among
the guests at the Grand Opening reception & Multi-Media Art Event at Lacy Studio Lofts,
presented by Creative Environments, Lilli Muller, Edgar Varela Fine Arts and Bert Green Fine Art,
with entertainment by Pablo Calogero & Triorganico, Sidestreet Reny and X-Factor.
To be held on Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 6-11 p.m., the evening promises a high-energy,
multi media art event.
Guests  can tour completed loft units while experiencing a variety of original works by
professional and emerging artists. Following the grand opening, the art installation will remain on
display from December 15, 2007 through February 29, 2008".

"Børsen" (Danish newspaper): "DRØMME og hårdt arbejde"/"DREAMS and hard work..."by Journalist Tina Johnk Christensen 

CURRICULUM VITAE for Birgitte Moos

birgitte@birgittemoos.com

EDUCATION       

2000  

Multimedia Institute - Copenhagen. Supplementary training in Virtual Visualisation

1993-98  

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – Copenhagen. MFA Set Design

1997  

The Berlin University of the Arts, UDK - Berlin. Faculty of Performing Arts; Stage Design for Theatre & Performance. Student of Professor Achim Freyer                

1995-96  

Berlin-Weissensee Academy of Fine Arts - Berlin. Faculty of Set Design for Theatre. Student  of  Professor Volker Pfuller

1992  

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts –-Copenhagen. Faculty of Visual Communication

1987-88  

Roskilde University, RUC - Denmark. Faculty of the Arts. BA Studies in the Humanities

1986

University of Copenhagen - Denmark. BA Studies in Art History

AWARDS, NOMINATIONS, GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS

2012

‎'SugarShock' paintings selected as 1 of 10 finalists for the SAATCHI GALLERY'S Showdown Open Call, London

2011

THE 32ND ANNUAL LA WEEKLY THEATER AWARDS OF BEST THEATRE IN LA. Nominated for best set design of the year: ’The Arsonists’ at the Odyssey Theatre, L.A.

Stage and Cinema. THEATER IN LOS ANGELES NOMINATION: THE BEST OF 2010. ’The Arsonists’ at the Odyssey Theatre, L.A. Set design

2010

Critics Choice,  Los Angeles Times . Odyssey Theatre - L.A. ’The Arsonists.’ Set Design 

Winner Rogue Monk Design Competition

2009

Artist in Residence. The Watermill Center by Director Robert Wilson - Southhampton, NY

2006

Winner DV Awards 2006. Director Niels de Cederfeld. ’Angel City.’ Graphic Designer

2003  

USC, Cinema and Television School - L.A. Division of Animation and Digital Arts. Scholar in Residence

2002                                                                                                                                                                     The National Bank of Denmarks' Big Grant, Knud Hoejgaards Grant, Nordic Film Grant, Danish Set Designers Association Grant, Nordea Bank Denmarks Grant, The Employers Association Jubilee Foundation Grant, The Beckett Foundation, The Augustinus Foundation

2001

Knud Hoejgaards' Travel Grant

1999

Grand Prize Winner. Close-Up Scandinavian Shorts Competition - Copenhagen. ’Lack of Oxygen’. Director Christian  Fonnesbech. Set & Costume Designer

Reumert Prize Award winner; ’The Taming of the Shrew.’ Gladsaxe Theatre – Copenhagen. Director Kasper  Holten (Former Head of The National Danish Opera and now Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House - London). Set Designer Assistant for Marie I Dali

1997

The Design Foundation Grant for studying abroad

1985

The Metropolitan High School High Grade Grant

LECTURES, TALKS and TEACHING

2012

Member of University of La Verne's, California, Think Tank on 'Interdisciplinarity and Community' 

2004-11

Station Next (Zentropa Productions by Lars von Trier, Nimbus Productions, Nordic Film, Danish National TV) - Copenhagen. Lecturer in production design for film

2003-10

Private Art Instructor

2009

The Watermill Center by Director Robert Wilson - Southampton/  NY. Artist in Residence for  research. Public talk on my book ’Revolutionary Spaces’

MOCA – L.A. Art Guide

1998 – 2000

FOF (Public Information Organization) - Copenhagen. Fine Art Instructor

AOF (The Workers Cultural Organization) - Copenhagen. Fine Art Instructor

1990 – 1991

FOF (Public Information Organization) - Copenhagen. Clothing Design Instructor

WRITING

2009-12

Research and writing for my non-fiction book ’Revolutionary Spaces - interdisciplinary scenography’ 

2011

Columbia University - New York. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Revolutionary Spaces - interdisciplinary scenography after post dramatic theatre’

2010

RUC, Roskilde University - Copenhagen. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Revolutionary Spaces – interdisciplinary scenography after post dramatic theatre’

2009 – 06

Citizen Magazine - L.A. Opera reviews from Los Angeles Opera on Wagners ’Parsifal’ and ’The Ring Cycle’ directed by Robert Wilson and Achim Freyer

2002

Denmarks National College of Design / Danmarks Designskole - Copenhagen. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Transcendental images and spiritual symbols in the millenium epoch of Hollywood films’

SET DESIGN THEATER 

2010  

Odyssey Theatre - L.A. ’The Arsonists.’ Director Ron Sossi. LA Weekly Award nominated Set Design; Critics Choice, Los Angeles Times                     

2009  

Cantabile2 Theatre - Copenhagen. Kaleidoskop K2. ’The Beggars Opera.’ Director  Nullo Facchini. Music Marilyn Mazur. Set and Costume Designer 

2006  

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’Sexual Perversities in Chicago.’ Director Paul Wagar. Set  design

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’The Death of an Anarchist.’ Director Georgia Harell. Set design 

2005  

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’Frozen.’ Director Paul Wagar. Set design

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’The Fox.’ Director David Grammer. Set design

2002  

The Second Opera - Copenhagen. ’Bridge of Sighs.’ Set and costume design concept

1999  

Cantabile2 Theatre - Copenhagen. Kaleidoskop, Junge Hunde Festival, Finland and Sweden. ’Agnes.’ Director  Nullo Facchini. Set and Costume Designer                                       

1996  

Deutsches Theatre - Berlin. ’Oedipus’. Director Alexander Lang. Set Designer Assistant for Professor Volker Pfuller

1991  

Groennegaards Theatre - Copenhagen. ’True or False.’ Director Staffan Valdemar Holm (Director of Dramaten, Stockholm. Director of Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf, Germany), Costumier

Tivoli/ Grøften - Copenhagen. ’True or False.’ Director Staffan Valdemar Holm. Costume Coordinator

1990  

Boldhus Theatre - Copenhagen. ’Three Sisters.’ Costume Designer

PRODUCTION DESIGN - FILM, TV, GAMES, SHORTS

2007-2010  

LA Edge - L.A. Production designer on various web videos

2004  

TV-2 (Danish National TV) - Copenhagen. Visual Concept Developer

Circadian Rhythms Productions - L.A. Director Niels de Cederfeld. ’Angel City.’ Graphic Designer

2003-04  

Media City Stages, Set Masters, Universal Studios, Glendale Studios, VPS Productions - L.A.  Production Designer Assistant on many commercial productions

2002  

Lisa Rosenmeier - Skagen / Denmark. ’Dissapearing Into Silence.’ Art Video. Director Lisa Rosenmeier. Actress and Set Dresser

2000-01 

Tristone - Copenhagen. Interactive games and TV entertainment. Lead Production Designer

1999  

Nordic Film - Copenhagen. ’Kimera.’ Director Christian Fonnesbech. Production design concept

1995  

The National Danish Filmschool - Copenhagen. ’DJ.’ Director Shaky Gonzales. Production Designer Assistant for Sabina Mlejnek

COMING SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012

Gallery B&K Projects - Copenhagen. Installation ’People Come Back from War, Transformed’

Gallery Stixs - Copenhagen. ’Sugar Schok’

Skid Row - Downtown L.A. -  Installation and performance ’People Come Back from War, Transformed’

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012

Zip's Fusion - L.A. Sitespecific installation

2011

Museum of Lolland, Hoejbygaard Sugarfactory - Denmark. Set Design as Art . ’Light Over LOL-land.’ Sitespecific Installation

2009

Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Series’

2007                      

Bedlam Gallery - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Project’ Paintings. ’The Memory Palace Project’

2006           

410 BOYD - L.A. Paintings. ’Repulsive Repetition Series’

Danish Furniture Design Showroom - Culver City / L.A.

2005           

Danish Furniture Design Showroom - Culver City /  L.A.

2004           

Carolina Gallery - Studio City / L.A.

2003           

Nikolaj Church – Copenhagen. Paintings. ’Ode to Wim Wenders’

The Langelinje Pavillion – Copenhagen. Paintings

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012

Warehouse 613 Imperial St. Downtown - L.A. Arts District Winterfest

2011

Prague Quadrenniale of Performance Design and Space. Veletrzni Palace; National Gallery Prague

Projectroom - Berlin. ’The Fridge Project’                                                        

Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts - L.A. ’Driven to Abstraction’;

’My bloody Black Valentines Show.’ Two person show. Birgitte Moos and Gil Mares  

Caporale / Bleicher Gallery - L.A. ’Anachronious Mind Tree’

2010 

Bleicher / Golightly Gallery - Santa Monica, L.A. ’Micro Gestalt and Burned Fingers’

Warehouse 833 E. Third St. Downtown - L.A. Arts District Winterfest

The Royal Danish Academy of Art - Copenhagen. Performance with Christian Johansen, Transitstation DE. Curator Dagmar Glauschnitzer, ’Mani-Fest’

Optical Allusion Gallery - L.A.

Downtown Artwalk - L.A. ’Cunt-Fetti.’ Installation in collaboration with Trine Koester and Tilde Bay Kristoffersen

2009

Zirrat Bankasi Gallery - Ankara / Turkey. Group Show. ’Trade Show’

410 Boyd - L.A. Group Show. ’The Rat Pack’

ISIK University Gallery - Istanbul / Turkey. 11th International Istanbul Biennial Parallel Exhibition: ’Trade Show’

City of Brea Art Gallery - Orange County / California. ’For Love or Money’

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park - L.A.

Pershing Square - L.A. ’Autumn Lights’: ’Fake it Till You Make it’

Factory Place Gallery ­ L.A.

Katalyst Foundation for the Arts - L.A. ’Ma Vie Erotique’

The Hive Gallery - L.A. ’Girls Drawin’ Girls’

Stella Dottir Gallery - L.A. 1st Annual Sunflower Festival                                            

Contemporanea Gallery - L.A. With Robert Reynolds and Gottfried Helnwein

2008

I-5 Gallery, The Brewery - L.A. Curated by Matt Gleason

Pershing Square - L.A. ’Art Squared’

Hotel Fox - Copenhagen. Two person Show       

Lacy Street Arts Complex - L.A. Curated by Bert Green Fine Arts, Lili Muller and EVFA

Gallery Westphall - Copenhagen. ’Memory Palace Series.’ Three person show  

Contemporanea Gallery - L.A. With Robert Reynolds and Gottfried Helnwein

2007

The Goethe Institute - Brussels / Belgium. Visual Arts and Politics

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park - L.A.

Two07 Gallery - New York. ’History of Conspiracy Theories’

Phantom Galleries - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Series’                      

Politikens Hus/ Pressen - Copenhagen. Art Money                                           

The Biscuit Factory - L.A. LA Magazine Event. Curated by Lilli Muller and Seth Carmichael. With Richard Ankron, Robert Reynolds, Shepard Fairey, Cyril Helnwein                

Hangar 1018 Gallery - L.A. ’Where is LA’

Junglerush Gallery / Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. ’The Love Show’          

Hive Gallery - L.A.

Santa Fe Art Colony, Artwalk - L.A.

2006         

The Hall of the Axe / Øksnehallen - Copenhagen. 101 Art Money   

Regent Gallery - L.A. ’Book Illustrations, and Books as Illustrations’

M.J. Higgins Gallery - L.A. ’Far and Wide’. With Richard Godfrey and Moris Tepper

Bedlam Art Gallery - L.A. ’Spy Versus Spy’

Santa Monica Airport - L.A., with Trine Wejp Olsen

Caltrans Plaza - L.A. Grey Gardens

Bedlam Gallery - L.A. ’The Beauty and the Beast’; ’Repulsive Repetition Series.’

Junglerush Gallery / Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. Red; ’Every Day has it's Price’

2005          

M.J. Higgins Gallery - L.A. Katarina Fundraiser Show: ’Katarina & the Waves’

Spring Arts Tower - L.A. CREATE FIXATE. ’Low or No Profile’

Kings Steet Gallery - Amsterdam / Holland. ’2020 Visions’

2004           

Dannerhouse - Copenhagen. ’Women Focusing’

Don O'Melveny Gallery - L.A. ’Buddha Lounge’

Annenberg Center of Communication, USC - L.A. ’Dreamwaves’

1998

The Hall of the Axe / Øksnehallen - Copenhagen. ’The Hamletmachine’        

Cafe Krasnapolsky - Copenhagen. Three Dimensional Paintings. Three person show

1997

Glashall - Copenhagen. Installation ’Time is Now / ALT2000’

1996          

The Video Gallery - Berlin. ’be-long-island.’ Two person show

1991          

Arthall Charlottenborg Autumn Exhibition - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’

Borups College - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’

Broendhall, Frederiksberg Garden - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’

CURRICULUM VITAE for Birgitte Moos

birgitte@birgittemoos.com

EDUCATION       

2000  

Multimedia Institute - Copenhagen. Supplementary training in Virtual Visualisation

1993-98  

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts –- Copenhagen. MFA Set Design

1997  

The Berlin University of the Arts, UDK - Berlin. Faculty of Performing Arts; Stage Design for Theatre & Performance. Student of Professor Achim Freyer                

1995-96  

Berlin-Weissensee Academy of Fine Arts - Berlin. Faculty of Set Design for Theatre. Student  of  Professor Volker Pfuller

1992  

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts –-Copenhagen. Faculty of Visual Communication

1987-88  

Roskilde University, RUC - Denmark. Faculty of the Arts. BA Studies in the Humanities

1986

University of Copenhagen - Denmark. BA Studies in Art History

AWARDS, NOMINATIONS, GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS
2012
‎'SugarShock' paintings selected as 1 of 10 finalists for the SAATCHI GALLERY'S Showdown Open Call, London

2011

THE 32ND ANNUAL LA WEEKLY THEATER AWARDS OF BEST THEATRE IN LA. Nominated for best set design: ’The Arsonists’ at the Odyssey Theatre, L.A.

Stage and Cinema. THEATER IN LOS ANGELES NOMINATION: THE BEST OF 2010. ’The Arsonists’ at the Odyssey Theatre, L.A. Set design

2010

Critics Choice,  Los Angeles Times . Odyssey Theatre - L.A. ’The Arsonists.’ Set Design 

Winner Rogue Monk Design Competition

2009

Artist in Residence. The Watermill Center by Director Robert Wilson - Southhampton, NY

2006

Winner DV Awards 2006. Director Niels de Cederfeld. ’Angel City.’ Graphic Designer

2003  

USC, Cinema and Television School - L.A. Division of Animation and Digital Arts. Scholar in Residence

2002                                                                                                                                                                   The National Bank of Denmarks' Big Grant, Knud Hoejgaards Grant, Nordic Film Grant, Danish Set Designers Association Grant, Nordea Bank Denmarks Grant, The Employers Association Jubilee Foundation Grant, The Beckett Foundation, The Augustinus Foundation

2001

Knud Hoejgaards' Travel Grant

1999

Grand Prize Winner. Close-Up Scandinavian Shorts Competition - Copenhagen. ’Lack of Oxygen’. Director Christian  Fonnesbech. Set & Costume Designer

Reumert Prize Award winner; ’The Taming of the Shrew.’ Gladsaxe Theatre – Copenhagen. Director Kasper  Holten (Head of The National Danish Opera and new director of opera at the Royal Opera House - London). Set Designer Assistant for Marie I Dali

1997

The Design Foundation Grant for studying abroad

1985

The Metropolitan High School High Grade Grant

LECTURES, TALKS and TEACHING
2012
Member of University of La Verne's, California, Think Tank on 'Interdisciplinarity and Community' 

2004-11

Station Next (Zentropa Productions by Lars von Trier, Nimbus Productions, Nordic Film, Danish National TV) - Copenhagen. Lecturer in production design for film

2003-10

Private Art Instructor

2009

The Watermill Center by Director Robert Wilson - Southampton/  NY. Artist in Residence for  research. Public talk on my book ’Revolutionary Spaces’

MOCA – L.A. Art Guide

1998 – 2000

FOF (Public Information Organization) - Copenhagen. Fine Art Instructor

AOF (The Workers Cultural Organization) - Copenhagen. Fine Art Instructor

1990 – 1991

FOF (Public Information Organization) - Copenhagen. Clothing Design Instructor

WRITING

2009-12

Research and writing for my non-fiction book ’Revolutionary Spaces - interdisciplinary scenography’ 

2011

Columbia University - New York. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Revolutionary Spaces - interdisciplinary scenography after post dramatic theatre’

2010

RUC, Roskilde University - Copenhagen. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Revolutionary Spaces – interdisciplinary scenography after post dramatic theatre’

2009 – 06

Citizen Magazine - L.A. Opera reviews from Los Angeles Opera on Wagners ’Parsifal’ and ’The Ring Cycle’ directed by Robert Wilson and Achim Freyer

2002

Denmarks National College of Design / Danmarks Designskole - Copenhagen. Ph.d.-Project proposal ’Transcendental images and spiritual symbols in the millenium epoch of Hollywood films’

SET DESIGN THEATER 

2010  

Odyssey Theatre - L.A. ’The Arsonists.’ Director Ron Sossi. LA Weekly Award nominated Set Design; Critics Choice, Los Angeles Times                     

2009  

Cantabile2 Theatre - Copenhagen. Kaleidoskop K2. ’The Beggars Opera.’ Director  Nullo Facchini. Music Marilyn Mazur. Set and Costume Designer 

2006  

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’Sexual Perversities in Chicago.’ Director Paul Wagar. Set  design

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’The Death of an Anarchist.’ Director Georgia Harell. Set design 

2005  

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’Frozen.’ Director Paul Wagar. Set design

Ark Theatre - L.A. ’The Fox.’ Director David Grammer. Set design

2002  

The Second Opera - Copenhagen. ’Bridge of Sighs.’ Set and costume design concept

1999  

Cantabile2 Theatre - Copenhagen. Kaleidoskop, Junge Hunde Festival, Finland and Sweden. ’Agnes.’ Director  Nullo Facchini. Set and Costume Designer                                       

1996  

Deutsches Theatre - Berlin. ’Oedipus’. Director Alexander Lang. Set Designer Assistant for Professor Volker Pfuller

1991  

Groennegaards Theatre - Copenhagen. ’True or False.’ Director Staffan Valdemar Holm (Director of Dramaten, Stockholm. Director of Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf, Germany), Costumier

Tivoli/ Grøften - Copenhagen. ’True or False.’ Director Staffan Valdemar Holm. Costume Coordinator

1990  

Boldhus Theatre - Copenhagen. ’Three Sisters.’ Costume Designer

PRODUCTION DESIGN - FILM, TV, GAMES, SHORTS

2007-2010  

LA Edge - L.A. Production designer on various web videos

2004  

TV-2 (Danish National TV) - Copenhagen. Visual Concept Developer

Circadian Rhythms Productions - L.A. Director Niels de Cederfeld. ’Angel City.’ Graphic Designer

2003-04  

Media City Stages, Set Masters, Universal Studios, Glendale Studios, VPS Productions - L.A.  Production Designer Assistant on many commercial productions

2002  

Lisa Rosenmeier - Skagen / Denmark. ’Dissapearing Into Silence.’ Art Video. Director Lisa Rosenmeier. Actress and Set Dresser

2000-01 

Tristone - Copenhagen. Interactive games and TV entertainment. Lead Production Designer

1999  

Nordic Film - Copenhagen. ’Kimera.’ Director Christian Fonnesbech. Production design concept

1995  

The National Danish Filmschool - Copenhagen. ’DJ.’ Director Shaky Gonzales. Production Designer Assistant for Sabina Mlejnek

COMING SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012

Gallery B&K Projects - Copenhagen. Installation ’People Come Back from War, Transformed’

Gallery Stixs - Copenhagen. ’Sugar Schok’
Skid Row - Downtown L.A. -  Installation and performance ’People Come Back from War, Transformed’

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012
Zip's Fusion - L.A. Sitespecific installation

2011

Museum of Lolland, Hoejbygaard Sugarfactory - Denmark. Set Design as Art . ’Light Over LOL-land.’ Sitespecific Installation

2009

Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Series’

2007                      

Bedlam Gallery - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Project’ Paintings. ’The Memory Palace Project’

2006           

410 BOYD - L.A. Paintings. ’Repulsive Repetition Series’

Danish Furniture Design Showroom - Culver City / L.A.

2005           

Danish Furniture Design Showroom - Culver City /  L.A.

2004           

Carolina Gallery - Studio City / L.A.

2003           

Nikolaj Church – Copenhagen. Paintings. ’Ode to Wim Wenders’

The Langelinje Pavillion – Copenhagen. Paintings

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012

Warehouse 613 Imperial St. Downtown - L.A. Arts District Winterfest

2011

Prague Quadrenniale of Performance Design and Space. Veletrzni Palace; National Gallery Prague

Projectroom - Berlin. ’The Fridge Project’                                                        

Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts - L.A. ’Driven to Abstraction’;

’My bloody Black Valentines Show.’ Two person show. Birgitte Moos and Gil Mares  

Caporale / Bleicher Gallery - L.A. ’Anachronious Mind Tree’

2010 

Bleicher / Golightly Gallery - Santa Monica, L.A. ’Micro Gestalt and Burned Fingers’

Warehouse 833 E. Third St. Downtown - L.A. Arts District Winterfest

The Royal Danish Academy of Art - Copenhagen. Performance with Christian Johansen, Transitstation DE. Curator Dagmar Glauschnitzer, ’Mani-Fest’

Optical Allusion Gallery - L.A.

Downtown Artwalk - L.A. ’Cunt-Fetti.’ Installation in collaboration with Trine Koester and Tilde Bay Kristoffersen

2009

Zirrat Bankasi Gallery - Ankara / Turkey. Group Show. ’Trade Show’

410 Boyd - L.A. Group Show. ’The Rat Pack’

ISIK University Gallery - Istanbul / Turkey. 11th International Istanbul Biennial Parallel Exhibition: ’Trade Show’

City of Brea Art Gallery - Orange County / California. ’For Love or Money’

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park - L.A.

Pershing Square - L.A. ’Autumn Lights’: ’Fake it Till You Make it’

Factory Place Gallery ­ L.A.

Katalyst Foundation for the Arts - L.A. ’Ma Vie Erotique’

The Hive Gallery - L.A. ’Girls Drawin’ Girls’

Stella Dottir Gallery - L.A. 1st Annual Sunflower Festival                                            

Contemporanea Gallery - L.A. With Robert Reynolds and Gottfried Helnwein

2008

I-5 Gallery, The Brewery - L.A. Curated by Matt Gleason

Pershing Square - L.A. ’Art Squared’

Hotel Fox - Copenhagen. Two person Show       

Lacy Street Arts Complex - L.A. Curated by Bert Green Fine Arts, Lili Muller and EVFA

Gallery Westphall - Copenhagen. ’Memory Palace Series.’ Three person show  

Contemporanea Gallery - L.A. With Robert Reynolds and Gottfried Helnwein

2007

The Goethe Institute - Brussels / Belgium. Visual Arts and Politics

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park - L.A.

Two07 Gallery - New York. ’History of Conspiracy Theories’

Phantom Galleries - L.A. ’The Memory Palace Series’                      

Politikens Hus/ Pressen - Copenhagen. Art Money                                           

The Biscuit Factory - L.A. LA Magazine Event. Curated by Lilli Muller and Seth Carmichael. With Richard Ankron, Robert Reynolds, Shepard Fairey, Cyril Helnwein                

Hangar 1018 Gallery - L.A. ’Where is LA’

Junglerush Gallery / Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. ’The Love Show’          

Hive Gallery - L.A.

Santa Fe Art Colony, Artwalk - L.A.

2006         

The Hall of the Axe / Øksnehallen - Copenhagen. 101 Art Money   

Regent Gallery - L.A. ’Book Illustrations, and Books as Illustrations’

M.J. Higgins Gallery - L.A. ’Far and Wide’. With Richard Godfrey and Moris Tepper

Bedlam Art Gallery - L.A. ’Spy Versus Spy’

Santa Monica Airport - L.A., with Trine Wejp Olsen

Caltrans Plaza - L.A. Grey Gardens

Bedlam Gallery - L.A. ’The Beauty and the Beast’; ’Repulsive Repetition Series.’

Junglerush Gallery / Edgar Varela Fine Arts - L.A. Red; ’Every Day has it's Price’

2005          

M.J. Higgins Gallery - L.A. Katarina Fundraiser Show: ’Katarina & the Waves’

Spring Arts Tower - L.A. CREATE FIXATE. ’Low or No Profile’

Kings Steet Gallery - Amsterdam / Holland. ’2020 Visions’

2004           

Dannerhouse - Copenhagen. ’Women Focusing’

Don O'Melveny Gallery - L.A. ’Buddha Lounge’

Annenberg Center of Communication, USC - L.A. ’Dreamwaves’

1998

The Hall of the Axe / Øksnehallen - Copenhagen. ’The Hamletmachine’        

Cafe Krasnapolsky - Copenhagen. Three Dimensional Paintings. Three person show

1997

Glashall - Copenhagen. Installation ’Time is Now / ALT2000’

1996          

The Video Gallery - Berlin. ’be-long-island.’ Two person show

1991          

Arthall Charlottenborg Autumn Exhibition - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’

Borups College - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’

Broendhall, Frederiksberg Garden - Copenhagen. Performance ’Corpus in C’