Photo Journal: Copenhagen 10.2011 (part 2) and Malmo

Museum Hopping

The National Gallery of Denmark
(Statens Museum for Kunst)

Unassuming looking museum with a modern addition
facing natural landscape.

Entrance foyer with a gravity defying staircase.

“Street of sculpture”, bridging the new and old wing,
with seasonal performance and exhibitions.

Excellent collection of Finnish and Danish paintings
reminds one of Kiekegaard and Bergman on realms of
inwardness and domesticity.

Enjoying one’s own company.

Among the painters, Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916),
much loved by the Danes, has an intense presence.

The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet)

An establishment with vast selection of cultural  and anthropological relics from literally all corners of the world.

Wind instruments like no others.

African stools - examples on economy of design.

Dancing in the dark: Indonesian traditional troupe.

Miniature wedding parade during the Qing Dynasty.

The David Collection (Davids Samling)

Free to enter, the neo-classical building houses eclectic array of artworks acquired by C L David.   The city mansion with Islamic art at the upper floors are particularly worth viewing.  For Hammershøi’s fans, there is a room dedicated to his works.

Islamic arts and crafts that represents cultural

diversities of the Middle East.

18^th century European arts, furniture and interiors are located at lower floors. (photo from www.wikipedia.com)

  The Royal Garden opposite to the David Collection.
Is the Hammershøi colour palette here?

The Ordrupgaard Museum

Apart from the Impressionist and Danish paintings, the focus for visitors is on Zaha hadid’s competition winning entry of the museum extension.  To one’s surprise, there is more to offer architecturally: the modernist home of the furniture designer Finn Juhl.

The weathering design of the building exterior since 2005 takes its toll on the slanted side.

Museum restaurant provides interesting interior and excellent aspects to the outside.

Architectural configuration stretches awkwardly with the existing museum building and landscape.

Models, ground floor plan and sections of Models, ground floor plan and sections of The Ordrupgaard Extension by Zaha Hadid.  (Images from the architects)

Click here for review of Innovation Tower by Zaha Hadid.


Click here for review of Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid.

Finn Juhl (1912-1989) designed this building for himself in 1942.

The house was a particularly interesting visit.  Not only are there furniture and decorative items of Scandinavian interests, it demonstrates the idea of modest living home with great poetry.  Unfortunately the management has decided not to allow photographing the interior anymore.

Interior view. (photo from www.stephenbrookes.com)

Interior view.

(photo from www.jessicacomingore.com)

We saw the temporary exhibition of Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) inadvertently.  Her stoic compositions and poignant use of colours make lasting impressions.  Again no photos are permitted.

Self Portrait

(photo from www.napavalleyartcamp.blogspot.com)

School girl in black

(photo from www.thebluekimono.blogspot.com)

Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot)

Fairytale-like castle with treasures of royal jewellery and antiques.

Through the doorway, royal tableware is displayed.

Surreal impression of sculpture amid landscape at the Royal Garden.

Author and name of sculpture cannot be traced.

Frederiksborg Castle (Frederiksborg Slot)

For hardcore fans of castle, this is the place with formal gardens to spend a day.  The town of Hillerød where the compound is situated might also worth visiting.

Picturesque castle and French garden setting.
(Photo from www.view.stern.de)

Majestic chapel from the clerestory.

Arken Museum of Modern Art

(Arken Museum for Moderne Kunst)

The art gallery, rather than a museum proper, hosts a broad range of European art of the last 20 years.  The Damien Hirst Room was set up with donation from the Merla Art Foundation in September, 2011.  The artist might have occupied a place in contemporary art, but this collection of works does not live up to the hype.  It would be nice to see more Danish contemporary art though.

The set-up of Din Blinde Passager, 2010

by Olafur Eliasson (1967- )

Few minutes’ experience of blindness is overwhelming.

See what you see in “Eye see you”, 2006

by Olafur Eliasson

“Your negotiable panorama”, 2006 by Eliasson: tracking your own movement by the waves of light.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

It is curiously named not after the city in the US, but the name of Louise from the 3 wives of the original plot owner.  It is well deserved as one of the most visited museums in the world.  Apart from the fact it has a fine collection of modern art and concert auditorium, the natural surrounding where the museum is nested provides a very pleasurable outing for family and individual alike.  More on the plus side, it is well connected with the railway system.

The café, serving fresh food and overlooking the Øresund Strait, is a mandatory visit.  David Hockney was here to paint still life on his iPhone.

Walking folks in Giacometti’s room of sculptures.

Little Janey-Waney by A. Calder (1898-1976) is among one of the many piece in the sculpture park.

Ambitious series of exhibition: Living frontiers of architecture III-IV covering 3 floor space.

Read more following this link: Living Frontiers

Lone fisherman at the shoreline below the museum.

Malmo

Day trip to the third populous city of Sweden.  Impressions were limited as most museums were closed on Mondays and the city centre was fairly quiet on an October day.  Admittedly, it would be nice to visit the western harbour developments and the landmark building - Turning Torso by Santiago calatrava.

Central station from Copenhagen to Malmo – one of the few surviving timber framed railway structures with rusticated appeal.

Mere 30 minute ride from Copenhagen to Malmo via the Øresund Bridge.  On a clear day, one might be able to spot the monumental wind turbines from the right side of the train.
(photo from www.hochtief.com)

Interesting hybrid church with gothic rose window, renaissance gable walls and Orthodox spires.

Jugendstil architecture in distinct flavor of the Northern Countries.

Day trip in this city did not spare enough time to try the crisp looking metro system.

Brass band on parade along the main thoroughfare.

Can’t beat this Swedish shop opening hours:

4 hours a day at the most.