Baffled

Some of the art in public spaces in Copenhagen baffles me. This metal goat near at one of the canals is such a case. Is the McD bag on purpose or has someone decided to make it better? I don't know but it makes a statement in this way.

The man of iron on his key

 

A photo of the complete sculpture mentioned in yesterday's post. Here you can see the garbage man sitting on his key as he contemplates the future of the city.

 

Man of steel

 

One of the more controversial sculptures in Copenhagen is this one. It was placed in the harbour a few months ago right next to the old custom houses in a place where he is really visible to all the tourist passing on the walk from the Little Mermaid to Amalienborg Palace. Sitting on a key of steel and made of old machine parts and steel tubing, many find him misplaced and plain ugly. I actually find him a nice addition to the area.

 

Shining through

 

Not being able to sleep in does have its rewards and watching sunrises is one them. A favourite place of mine to greet he sun of the new day is Copenhagen Harbour. This photo was taken with my iPhone a week ago just as the sun was shining through a sculpture on the wharf right next to the HQ of Maersk.

 

He

Apart from the time lapse video I showed you yesterday I also got a few other shots Friday morning in Helsingør. This one is of the merman in the harbour, starring at the rising sun. The sculpture called Han (Danish for he) is made of steel by the artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset in 2010 as a modern version of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid. It got a mixed review by the public; the county and the politicians loved it but the department in charge of the castles and public buildings, the landscape architect responsible for the new harbour area in Helsingør and the foundation that financed the new area were not pleased.

Copenhagen Art Festival

 

Friday the Copenhagen Art Festival 2012 opened and with a host of events and exhibitions lasting into the autumn, there's going to be something for everyone. Some of the exhibitions will be held in the public space, like this Running Woman in the central park of Kongens Have, and some will be held at the participating art galleries. For more info visit www.cph-artfestival.org.

 

A sad sculpture

 
One of my favourite sculptures in Copenhagen is this one, called Death and the Mother by Niels Hansen Jacobsen, 1892. It's placed right outside the oldest building in the inner city, the St Petri Church from the 15th century. The church has been the German church of Copenhagen since being given to the German Lutherans in 1585 by King Frederik 2. Its most prominent internent is Count Johann Friedrich Struensee (5 August 1737 – 28 April 1772), German doctor, royal physician to King Christian 7, de facto regent and lover to the queen. His downfall ended with him being beheaded, drawn and quartered.
 

Masterpieces

 

In the cathedral of Copenhagen, Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady), Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's famous statue of the resurrected Christ stands for all to see. Completed in 1821 it has since been copied by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints numerous times. In front of the alter is a baptismal fount in the form of an angel holding a large scallop shell made in Italian carrara marble.