Konrad Sprenger, aka Jörg Hiller, born 1977 in Lahr, Germany; lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
Since 2017, artists and musicians Phillip Sollmann and Konrad Sprenger have been developing the Modular Organ System: the first monumental pipe organ that can be re-engineered according to the acoustics of any space. Sollmann and Sprenger have deterritorialized the classical organ; their revolutionary instrument is composed of pipes and parts taken from former church organs as well as newly fabricated pieces. When installed, all of the Modular Organ’s elements—pipes, console, action, and wind box—are visible, allowing visitors to witness the instrument’s physicality. By freeing the pipe organ from a singular, static installation, the artists usher in limitless possibilities for the placement and recontextualization of the tremendous instrument and its unique sound.
As artists in residence at Callie’s, Sollmann and Sprenger focused on testing and recording the organ’s output. In addition to repurposing components of former pipe organs—typically made of wood, leather, and metal—Sollmann and Sprenger built new elements out of non-traditional materials such as fiberglass, while collaborator Nico Ihlein created resonators out of ceramic. These innovations produced a new range of sounds for the organ while underscoring the installation’s sculptural significance.
The Modular Organ System was first developed by Sollmann and Sprenger in 2017, and has been presented at the following sites: Kestnergesellschaft, Hannover (2017); Gallery Mathew, Berlin (2017); Studio Dirk Bell, Berlin (2018); Stiftung Ludwig, Aachen (2018); Meakusma Festival, Eupen (2018); Auf AEG, Nürnberg (2019); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, (2020).
Phillip Sollmann works as an artist and composer under his real name; as Efdemin he has released several albums and holds a residency at Berghain. Since 2017 he has been working with Konrad Sprenger on the extensive project Modular Organ System.
Konrad Sprenger is a Berlin-based artist, composer, and music producer. Sprenger has long-term collaborations with Arnold Dreyblatt, Ellen Fullman, Oren Ambarchi, as well as luminary bands such as Ethnostress, Rom, Ei and the art group Honey-Suckle Company.
Nico Ihlein is a visual artist living and working in Berlin. He focuses on sculpture, installation, ornament, abstraction and jewelry. Ihlein exhibits nationally and internationally.