MODERN ART AT THE EDGE OF THE SEA: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark

Two piece reclining figure by Henry Moore, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark

One of our four days in Denmark was devoted to an excursion to the stunning Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, about 40 minutes north of Copenhagen by train. It is built at the edge of the sea (you can see Sweden on the other side of the water!) with art both inside and out. The museum, actually a series of interconnected structures (some underground) is built around large outdoor spaces, where a variety of sculptures are installed. The permanent collection includes paintings and lots of sculpture and a room of Giacometti figures. 

As Long as the Sun Sets, sculpture by Alex da Corta

When we visited the museum in late September, one of the featured exhibits was the work of Alex da Corta. Perched on the top of a hill overlooking the water was his large red stabile/mobile, "As Long as the Sun Sets". Big Bird sat in a swing suspended on a wire swaying in the wind. In a special room for children in the museum (the Bornehus) kids could make their own mini-versions of the sculpture and decorate them with found materials.

Humdrum Days by Swedish artist Mamma Andersson

The museum begins and ends in the gift shop. From there we proceeded to a series of underground galleries featuring paintings from the permanent collection--by Picasso, Warhol, Rauschenberg and others.

Frame, Catherine Opie, photographer

The next room was an exhibit of objects in Elizabeth Taylor's house photographed by Catherine Opie, appropriately book ended with a portrait by Andy Warhol.

Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol

Half-way around the museum complex we stopped for a delicious lunch (gazpacho with bufalo mozzarella and chorizo) at the museum restaurant. Although there is outdoor seating, we opted to sit inside, out of the wind and rain. Through the glass we had a view of a large work of art by Jean Dubuffet.

Manoir d'Essor by Jean Dubuffet

Walking Man by Giacometti

After lunch we proceeded through a long corridor, stopping at a room filled with Giacometti sculptures—skeletal figures silhouetted against the forest.

Mr. Remember exhibit by Alex da Corta

The final exhibit, titled "Mr. Remember", filled numerous rooms, and featured work by Venezuelan/American artist Alex da Corta with all kinds of neon, brightly colored paintings and objects, plus a few geese.  He uses an array of different materials and references: from low-cost, mass produced objects to high-end design; from children's TV to the masters of art history; from French poetry to American pop music. The net result is both fun and a bit unsettling. Families with kids loved all the video. 

Peeking through neon lit windows to view objects inside the hut.

The lower level of the exhibit felt like a Halloween fun-house, with dark passages lit by flashing neon,  revealing hidden objects inside small cabin-like structures.

Pars pro Toto by Alicja Kwade

To get to the Louisiana Museum from Copenhagen, we took on of the regional trains from the main station to Humlebaek, then followed the signs for a half-mile walk to the museum.

For information about visiting the Louisiana Museum and links to its history, click HERE.

Knud Jensen, Founder of the Louisiana Museum

The Louisiana Museum opened in 1958. From the beginning, the founder, Knud W. Jensen, intended for the museum to be a home for modern Danish art. But after only a few years he changed course, and instead of being a predominantly Danish collection, Louisiana became an international museum with many internationally renowned works.

Why is it called the Louisiana Museum?

Many people wonder about the name of the museum. The short explanation is this — a nobleman and his three wives.

Knud W. Jensen chose to “take over” the name of the country house that he later converted to a museum. The property had been built and named in 1855 by Alexander Brun (1814-93), who was an officer and Master of the Royal Hunt and who married three women who were all named Louise.