During the industrial era, a vast network of tunnels and mines was dug deep underground, criss-crossing the Terres Rouges from end to end, on several levels, even crossing the border, to link factories and steel production sites. Today, access to these underground passages is closed. Trees and shrubs hide the entrances; nature has reclaimed its rights in this landscape shaped by humans. The mining infrastructure beneath our feet, which has become obsolete over time, is less and less visible, until it disappears from our imagination.
For artist Serge Ecker, the ARBED tunnel embodies the rich and complex superimposition of the region's industrial history and its transformation into the digital age. The different strata of history, sociology, ecology and geology come together in the work "Passages", which he created for Elektron's inaugural exhibition CYBER STRUCTURES: Material Realities – Digital Experiences.
Using 3D-scanning and photogrammetry technologies (a technique for making reliable measurements from photographs by comparing viewpoints), Serge Ecker was able to capture the entire 1,800-meter-long tunnel and create a 3D-printed sculpture of it. The use of these technologies makes it possible to witness the evolution of this space over time, and to reintegrate it into the landscape.
In collaboration with Bridderhaus.
With the generous support of the Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.
With the kind support of the Commune de Rumelange, ArcelorMittal Luxembourg and the Musée National des Mines de Fer Luxembourgeoises.
As part of the Biennale 2024 Architectures - Esch Capitale Culturelle.
