Agnes Denes: The Living Pyramid / Susan Philipsz: The Lower World

Mudam Luxembourg—Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, in collaboration with LUGA—Luxembourg Urban Garden, presents two major monographic public space projects: the monumental sculpture The Living Pyramid (2015/2025) by Agnes Denes and a new sound installation The Lower World (2024) commissioned from Susan Philipsz for a unique heritage site.​

The Living Pyramid
​Situated next to Mudam Luxembourg on the esplanade of Park Dräi Eechelen, overlooking the Ville Haute, The Living Pyramid is a landmark work by Hungarian American artist Agnes Denes (b. 1931, Budapest), a pioneer in ecological and environmental art. This nine-meter-high pyramid, composed of over 2,000 plants from 33 local species, offers a striking commentary on the relationship between growth, productivity and environmental sustainability.

Denes invites viewers to reflect on how these forces—central to human progress—can disrupt ecological balance, underscoring the urgency of fostering a more sustainable coexistence with nature. In collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History of Luxembourg, The Living Pyramid will involve local communities and students in participatory planting and educational programs, raising awareness of pressing ecological challenges. 

A unique element of this project is its engagement with time. Visitors are invited to contribute personal reflections on life and nature via a questionnaire, which will be compiled into a time capsule. This capsule will be buried in Park Dräi Eechelen in autumn 2025, with the intention of being unearthed in a thousand years—embedding the work within an extraordinary temporal framework.

The Lower World
In addition, Mudam presents The Lower World, a newly commissioned sound installation by Scottish artist Susan Philipsz (b. 1965, Glasgow), renowned for her immersive works that explore the sculptural and emotional dimensions of sound. This installation is set within Luxembourg's Aquatunnel, a 900-meter underground passage connecting the Pétrusse Valley to the Pfaffenthal district beneath the historic Ville Haute. ​

Philipsz, who was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize in 2010, investigates the relationship between sound and space, drawing on emotion and collective memory. Utilizing the human voice and transformed sounds, she creates immersive experiences that invite visitors to rediscover their environment from a new perspective.​ In The Lower World, Philipsz's voice resonates through strategically placed speakers within the Aquatunnel. The installation draws inspiration from both civil defense sirens and the enchanting songs of the Sirens from Greek mythology, who lured sailors to their demise. This fusion transforms the tunnel into a sensory-rich environment, where the interplay of sound and space evokes a hypnotic atmosphere, encouraging visitors to reflect on their surroundings. ​

Both installations will be on view from May 7 to October 18, 2025, as part of the city-wide open-air exhibition LUGA, and demonstrate Mudam’s growing commitment to integrating contemporary art into the heart of Luxembourg’s landscape. By engaging with the city’s emblematic sites, they highlight the interaction between heritage, nature and artistic creation, while actively involving local communities.

Programme
April 24, 2025: Planting seeds on The Living Pyramid in collaboration with local schools.

May 8, 2025: Artist talk with Susan Philipsz on the creative process and the impact of sound in public space. Moderated by Bettina Steinbrügge, Director of Mudam.

May 15, 2025: Panel discussion with Laure Gauthier and Sonja Kmec on sound art and the history of the Aquatunnel.

May 24–25, June 21–22, September 20–21, 2025: Workshops, screenings and conversations on ecology and contemporary art practices.

May–September 2025: Guided tours of The Living Pyramid and The Lower World

May–October 2025: Family walks and talks on the evolution of urban landscapes and their impact on art.

Full public programme on mudam.com.