Mapping Copenhagen Art
Copenhagen is a wonderful city with an increasingly vibrant focus on art. In recent years a variety of new galleries representing both Danish and International artists have become firmly established in the city landscape. Copenhagen Exclusive asked three leading figures in the Copenhagen art scene; the artist, the museum director and the gallery owner, for their recommendations on where to get the out of the ordinary art experience.
Point of view 01.
The Museum Director: Karsten Ohrt is the newly assigned director of Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s National Art Gallery. Prior to his current job he was the director of the Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum (1979-88) and of Kunsthallen Brandt in
Odense (1988-2007).
Statens Museum for Kunst - The National Art Gallery
www.smk.dk
This National colossus exhibits Danish and foreign art, predominately from Western cultures, dating from the 14th Century up to the present day. The majority of the older pieces come direct from the collections of Danish Royalty. The museum buildings themselves are a study of past and present European architecture. The Renaissance inspired front wing of the museum dates back over a century, and a huge renovation and extension partly made of glass was completed in 1998.
“A must see at the museum is the exhibition, ‘Verden som landskab’ or ‘The World as a Landscape,’” Karsten Ohrt says, which ends on the 20th of January, 2008. It showcases landscape paintings from 1840-1910. The four National galleries in Scandinavia have lent out the best the countries have to offer in this category; from the 1840’s national romantic and grandiose landscapes to the impressionists, to the more withdrawn and soulful landscapes seen in the symbolists ruling decade around 1900,” says Karsten Ohrt.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
www.glyptotek.dk
The founder of the Carlsberg Brewery, Carl Jacobsen (1842-1914) established this visual symphony of a museum. You can’t miss it next to Tivoli Gardens. The meaning of the word “Glyptotek” is a collection of sculpture. The majority of sculpture on display dates back to 3000 B.C.-400 A.C. The museum also has a marvelous collection of French art. It must be one of the most peaceful places in Copenhagen where you can sit and take in the museum atmosphere in the winter garden surrounded by exotic plants and trees. A collection of works from the painter Paul Gauguin, once married to a Danish woman, is on exhibit. “Their collection of antique art is amazing in this part of the world. You can experience the very highlights from the impressionism and the post-impressionism,” says Karsten Ohrt.
Jeppe Heins Karrierebar
www.karrierebar.com
“I can’t wait for the artist Jeppe Heins Karrierebar, loosely translated to ‘Jeppe Heins Career Bar,’ to be launched in the old meat district of Vesterbro in the beginning of November. The place is a mix between a café, a bar and exhibition. Hein is inviting 30 artists including Danish and international top names to contribute their latest work. The idea is that the art work combines interactively with the surroundings and the visitors,” says Karten Ohrt.
Point of view 02.
The Gallery owner: Christian Chapelle is the young owner of Gallery Mogadishni in the city of Valby and its newly opened sister gallery in Aarhus. He started studying at Det Jyske Akademi (Jutlandic Academy of Arts), but soon realized he wanted to concentrate on promoting art, especially Danish artists beyond borders.
Mogadishni Gallery
www.mogadishni.com
Take a train from Copenhagen Central Station and you will reach Ny Ellebjerg Station in less than 10 minutes. Since 2003 a variety of galleries have moved to Valby. In the street, Carl Jacobsensvej 16, old factory buildings are now housing a charming and prosperous complex of contemporary art galleries. One of them is Mogadishni, a contemporary gallery representing Scandinavian and international artists. The gallery covers a wide range of artwork from paintings and sculptures to installations and video. Mogadishni Gallery is an experimental venue emphasizing a social as well as aesthetic context for contemporary art.
“It was the first gallery to make the move out of the city center towards Valby, and during the past three years many more gallery owners have seen the light and the advantages of this placement. With the lower rent we can focus even more on promoting our clients,” says Christian Chapelle. He continues, “Valby is now a happening place with innovative art and plenty of visitors to make sure the success continues.”
Helene Nyborg Contemporary Gallery
www.helenenyborg.com
You will find Helene Nyborg’s gallery next to Mogadishni. The place opened in 2006 with more contemporary art on the menu but representing a slightly less established group of artists. The most obvious difference between the two galleries is the crowd of artists on display. This gallery has a more poetic almost feminine zen approach to some of the artwork on show. You will find lots of Asian inspired art in the shape of paper work, collages and even electronic music. “I wanted to mention Helene Nyborg because she has the drive and enthusiasm it takes to promote contemporary Scandinavian and international art around the world at the various art fairs,” says Christian Chapelle. He continues, “if you have general interest in the contemporary or underground art scene of Copenhagen, I suggest you look up www.kopenhagen.dk. The site keeps you up to date on all upcoming exhibitions that museums and galleries have to offer in the Danish capital.”
Arken, Museum of Modern Art
www.arken.dk
Like a futuristic razor-sharp ship, the architecture of Arken immediately draws attention to itself. Situated 20 km south of Copenhagen you can get there by taking the S-train from Copenhagen Central Station to Ishøj station. Your senses are bound to be stimulated in the many rooms of the museum featuring curved and tilted walls and special light effects. The different showrooms in this giant building extend from large and open to intimate and tiny. In January 2008, an extension of the museum will be finished and the exhibition area will cover over 5000m2! The museum’s mission is to showcase modern art to a broad audience. “Arken can’t impossibly cover all contemporary art worth noticing. But they sure do the best they can, and it’s going to be interesting to see the additional building soon to be completed,” ends Christian Chapelle.
Point of view 03.
The Artist: Kristian von Hornsleth is a multi-talented artist often referred to as the bad boy of the Danish art scene. His often aggressive approach to his art creations covers a wide range of subjects from movies to music, paintings, ceramics, graphic design and architecture to name but a few! KvH is refreshingly controversial towards the established art scene.
Louisiana – Museum of Modern Art
www.louisiana.dk
Situated on the picturesque coast of Zealand outside the city of Humlebæk, 35 kilometers north of Copenhagen, this grand museum offers much more than modern and contemporary art. “To me Louisiana is a gem when talking cultural self-understanding. It’s like walking into a modern place of worship. The place is a pleasure to visit every time, because you get the reflections on interplay between art, architecture and landscape,” says Kristian von Hornsleth.
In the spacious old park surrounding Louisiana you have a great view across the Sound to Sweden. On display in the exquisite permanent modern art collection you will find artists such as Warhol, Picasso and Francis Bacon. Six to eight major exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, including classical masters and upcoming international artists are shown annually.
Gallery Poulsen
www.gallerypoulsen.com
Gallery Poulsen is located in the old center of Copenhagen. It’s a fairly new gallery that aspires to showcase art created by the art scene’s outsiders. Forget about comfortable, pleasing and decorative art. Here the focus is on the experimental and challenging, with often politically incorrect artwork designed to make the viewer “think outside the box.”
“Gallery Poulsen represents in your face contemporary art, never boring and always very direct. You get art containing sex, violence, blood and tears served raw on a plate free of false intellectualism,” explains Kristian von Hornsleth.
Gallery Nicolai Wallner
www.nicolaiwallner.com
In the newly developed and happening district, Islands Brygge, Gallery Nicolai Wallner rules! Innovative Scandinavian and international contemporary art is on display. All artists represented here have already gained international recognition and can be found in important private and public collections. The gallery participates in art fairs around the world. “Nicolai is up to date and on track with respect to contemporary art containing qualities that are sure to be lasting investments as well. That said, quality, whatever the term covers, is still what’s important. Sure, art is business as usual, but Nicolai comes from a humble place where greed is not the main force,” states Kristian von Hornsleth.
February 2008