MoMA Unveils Digital Swamp in New York: Berlin's Lost Wetlands Rebuilt Through Unreal Engine Simulation

The name Berlin originates from the ancient Slavic word Berl, meaning swamp—a reminder that the German capital was built atop an extensive glacial marshland formed more than 10,000 years ago and systematically drained from the 1700s onward. Beginning 12 October 2026, the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan digitally resurrects this erased ecology through Jakob Kudsk Steensen: Wetland, a living simulation that transforms environmental history into interactive art.

Running through 7 March 2027 in MoMA’s Agnes Gund Garden Lobby on Floor 1, the centerpiece installation Berl-Berl utilizes real-time game-engine technology to generate an evolving virtual ecosystem. Rather than looping a static film, the exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) runs as an autonomous, generative simulation powered by Unreal Engine, rendering micro-photogrammetry scans, botanical archives, and spatial acoustics into an immersive dialogue between lost wilderness and modern metropolises.

Photogrammetry, Myth, and Soundscapes from Berlin to Manhattan

To build this virtual wetland, Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen conducted extensive field research across the marshlands of Berlin and Brandenburg, photographing organic specimens thousands of times to produce hyper-detailed 3D digital assets. The visual and scientific foundation was expanded through a close collaboration with the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, incorporating historic geological samples and rare taxidermy into the virtual environment.

Acoustics play an equal role in the atmospheric depth of the piece:

• Spatial Acoustic Composition: Sound designer Matt McCorkle transformed environmental field recordings from surviving European wetlands into layered rhythmic pulses.
• Vocal Performances by Arca: Experimental musician Arca contributed vocal performances woven directly into amphibian calls and aquatic sounds.
• Sorbian and Slavic Folklore: The work integrates indigenous Slavic and Sorbian songs historically sung to navigate marshes, preserving oral histories that urbanization erased.

Originally debuted across roughly 1,500 square meters at Halle am Berghain in Berlin from 10 July to 26 September 2021, the artwork has been reimagined for New York audiences on MoMA's monumental Hyundai Card Digital Wall.

MoMA Admission, Hours, and Exhibition Details

Category or Detail	Official Specification	Visitor Planning Notes
Exhibition Title	Jakob Kudsk Steensen: Wetland (Berl-Berl)	Curated on Floor 1, Agnes Gund Garden Lobby
Exhibition Run	12 October 2026 – 7 March 2027	Included with all General Admission tickets
Museum Address	11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, NY 10019	Entrance between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Adult General Admission	$30	Covers all galleries, exhibitions & film screenings
Seniors (65+) / Visitors with Disabilities	$22	Accompanying care partners receive free entry
Students (Full-time with ID)	$17	Applies to domestic and international students
Children (Ages 16 & Under) / Members	Free	Advance timed ticket booking recommended
UNIQLO Friday Nights	Free for NY State Residents (5:30–8:30 PM)	Advance reservation & residency proof required
MoMA PS1 Branch (Queens)	22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City	Free admission for all visitors
Museum Operating Hours	Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun: 10:30 AM–5:30 PM; Fri: 10:30 AM–8:30 PM	Member morning access: Sat–Sun 9:30–10:30 AM

Visitor Insider Tips

• Arrive for Weekend Member or Early Hours: Midday crowds and ticket lines peak between 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM, particularly on rainy days. Booking the earliest 10:30 AM public time slot ensures an unhurried, quiet experience in front of the Agnes Gund Digital Wall.
• Bring Personal Headphones: Download the free digital museum guide via Bloomberg Connects (supported in 40 languages). Bringing your own wired or wireless headphones allows you to listen to the dedicated exhibition audio tracks and soundscape analysis directly from your smartphone.
• Strict Bag and Sketching Restrictions: MoMA does not permit luggage or items exceeding 11 × 17 × 5 inches, large umbrellas, tripods, or camera selfie sticks. If you plan to sketch, note that only graphite pencils and pads up to 8.5 × 11 inches are permitted; pens, colored markers, and crayons are prohibited in gallery spaces.
• Dining Strategies: The two-Michelin-starred restaurant The Modern and its adjoining Modern Bar Room on the ground floor do not require museum admission tickets, though reservations are recommended. Casual on-site spots like Café 2 and the Terrace Café require general museum entry.
• Explore Beyond Midtown: Pair your visit with NYC Tourism suggestions by catching the E or M subway line directly from 53rd Street to MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, where admission is always free.

Cultural and Environmental Context

Presenting Berlin’s vanished wetland geography inside Midtown Manhattan establishes an evocative parallel. Manhattan itself was once covered in tidal salt marshes, streams, and forested hills before centuries of grid planning, stone paving, and skyscraper foundations buried its native ecology.

By transforming ecological memory into an interactive, real-time simulation, Wetland moves beyond traditional static retrospectives. It invites urban travelers to consider how modern cities interact with natural ecosystems, illustrating that nature is not merely a distant rural getaway, but a foundational layer existing directly beneath metropolitan asphalt and subway tunnels.

FAQ: Visiting MoMA's Wetland Exhibition 2026–2027

Do I need a separate ticket to see the Wetland exhibition?

No. General admission ($30 adults, $22 seniors, $17 students, free for ages 16 and under) includes access to Wetland and all special exhibitions.

Where is the installation located inside the museum?

The installation is displayed on the Hyundai Card Digital Wall in the Agnes Gund Garden Lobby on Floor 1 of MoMA's main building at 11 West 53rd Street.

How do I get to MoMA by public transit?

Take the E or M subway train to the 5th Avenue/53rd Street station, or the B, D, F, or M train to 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center.

Are photography and video allowed inside the exhibition?

Yes. Non-commercial photography and video without flash are permitted. Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are strictly prohibited.

Through the living digital mist of Berl-Berl, MoMA bridges millennia of lost swamp ecology with the soaring glass architecture of twenty-first-century Manhattan.

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