Day 2: Copenhagen: Visiting the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art

Copenhagen Central Station is a Beauty © 2018 Bo Mackison

Copenhagen: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 6:50 PM

Back in the hotel after a long day. We forced our way through the fogginess of jet lag because this was our only opportunity to see the art museums. Tomorrow we head to the Viking Sky for the first official day at sea.

We skipped the included Tour of Copenhagen so we could visit both the ARKEN and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Of course, the two museums were on opposite sides of the city which made transportation more complicated.

First, we went to the ARKEN.

It took about 30 minutes by train from Copenhagen Central Station. “Take the S train line E towards Køge to Ishøj Station, then take bus route 128. Then it’s a 5-minute ride that goes directly to the museum.” Ishoj does not sound the way it is spelled when spoken in a Danish accent. The information guide at Copenhagen Central was very kind and wrote it out for us. Once we finally got on the correct train, we found our way without any unexpected happenings.

And the SUN was shining!

Bridge to the ARKEN ©2018 Bo Mackison

ARKEN is right on the coast, situated on a small island. A few sculptures are on the grounds with more intended in the future.

There’s a sculpture of a small child riding a rocking horse atop a pedestal to the left of the entrance. I had to look up the name. It’s Powerless Structures by Elmgreen & Dragset and gives honor to the heroism of growing up. From ArtDaily.com:

“The sculpture invokes life’s everyday activities and questions the tradition of monuments predicated on military victory or defeat.”

(These artists also did the Prada Marfa in Texas. Middle of nowhere Texas…)

The bridge is dramatically set to take one from nature to culture. It works, too. And combines two of my favorite things–the natural world and art.

Entrance to the Van Gogh Exhibit © 2018 Bo Mackison

From the ARKEN website:

“Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) is one of the most famous artists to have walked this earth. Notorious for having cut his ear off. Loved for his moving paintings and letters, which give us intimate insights into his life and thoughts. For Van Gogh life and art were a hard struggle. Yet he was able to create an original artistic idiom that demonstrates his profound belief in the cosmic unity of man and nature. ARKEN’s exhibition shows with 28 paintings and 11 drawings how his depictions of hard-working farm labourers and captivating landscapes in Arles were meant to express the divine in nature and mankind at a time of new departures in society when traditional faith was coming under pressure from modern philosophy and science.”

The Van Gogh exhibit was incredible. A modest crowd allowed plenty of time for study and reading the associated materials.

Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh

We were told we’re pronouncing Van Gogh’s name incorrectly. We laughed; the guide laughed, too. Vincent’s surname is not “go” but “goff” — rather like a harsh clearing of the throat. So we were told.

I loved the look of this grouping of lockers, in a puddle of light, some doors open and some locked tight. Do you think it might qualify as modern art?

Self Portrait in Cage and Mirror © 2018 Bo Mackison

We were pretty pleased with ourselves, taking buses and trains and more buses to get to the museum. Typical American, I know. I’m making a vow to get friendlier with our available public transportation when I get back home.