The artist’s ongoing interest in secret societies engendered her project in Copenhagen The Light of The Lodge, produced for the Copenhagen Art Festival in 2012. It challenges the bridge between the Freemasonic movement in the 1600s to the present day lodge of the Danish Order of Freemasons in Copenhagen.

In her own words: “For me, ever since I saw Lars von Trier’s film, Copenhagen has been the city of The Kingdom. The original Danish title Riget also translates as ‘the realm’, leading one to think of dødsriget – the realm of the dead.” The sinister, albeit comedic, masonic rituals depicted in The Kingdom inspired a series of projects about and around the masonic secret societies, their rituals, allegories and symbolic language. Two large-scale neons were installed in Copenhagen. One, depicting the Freemasons’ altar was installed on the Royal Library, and the other, with the image of the Freemasons’ ritual apron, was installed on a residential building in the Old Town.

In addition to the neons, Rajkowska worked a performative response to the city’s masonic past – a night march of women. A group of women started their walk through the city from the Royal Library garden, one of the most tranquil spots in the city. They wore long black capes and pointed hats topped with flaming torches. They had rattles in their hands, which intensified the pace of the walk and acted as a warning. The choreography of the march functioned as a symbolic transmission of the power of reason and control to those who, according to the hierarchical and male structure of the lodge, are excluded from authority.

2012, Altar, 190cm x 70cm x 20cm, neon tubes on aluminium frame, Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark

2012, Altar, 190cm x 70cm x 20cm, neon tubes on aluminium frame, Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark

2012, Apron, 180cm x 170cm x 20cm, neon tubes on aluminium frame, Old Town, Copenhagen, Denmark
 2012, Apron, 180cm x 170cm x 20cm, neon tubes on aluminium frame, Old Town, Copenhagen, Denmark

 2012, Apron, 180cm x 170cm x 20cm, neon tubes on aluminium frame, Old Town, Copenhagen, Denmark

Both neons, the Altar and the Apron, are at the centre of masonic symbolism. The altar is a symbol of the place of communion with the Supreme Architect of the Universe and the apron is a symbol of innocence and sacrifice.
They were based on sketches and derived from Freemason manuals.

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2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP

2012, The Light of the Lodge, Copenhagen, Denmark, performance, photographs, each 40cm x 26,7cm, ed.3 + AP