Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

On our way home from Helsingør, we visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Located approximately thirty minutes north of Copenhagen in the peaceful town of Humlebæk, Louisiana is one of the world's most visited art museums. During my studies in Copenhagen, I came here often and I've tried to make it into a habit for whenever I'm back. On my last visit, I was lucky enough to see Olafur Eliasson's critically acclaimed Riverbed installation a few days before it ended. It was an unforgettable experience.

Louisiana is known for its dynamic and well-researched exhibitions. The new Eye Attack: Op Art and Kinetic Art and Illumination: New Contemporary Art at Louisiana exhibits were both running during my visit, featuring works by Op Art pioneer Victor Vasarely and the legendary Ai Wei Wei, respectively. As always, they exceeded my expectations. Louisiana's extensive permanent collections are just as impressive; my favourites include the Giacometti Gallery, Asger Jorn's work, and Gleaming Lights of the Soulsan ephemeral, and introspective art installation by Yayoi Kusama. 

What makes Louisiana unique is the fact that it is more than just an art museum: it's an escape from the city. The museum is situated directly on the Øresund coast, offering panoramic views of the ocean all year round. The museum grounds feature a Sculpture Park, where installation and sculpture are either juxtaposed against or immersed within the lush vegetation of the natural landscape. Architecturally, Louisiana is a modernist's dream, designed to link architecture, nature, and art together through Danish modernism. As you meander through the seven different wings, you can see, feel, and experience how the museum's natural surroundings influenced the design. With arguably the best museum gift shop in the world, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is a definitive must-see when in Copenhagen.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Gl Strandvej 13
3050 Humlebæk
Denmark

Helsingør, Denmark

On our second day in Denmark, we took the train northbound along the Danish coast to Helsingør, one of the largest cities in Northern Zealand. Helsingør is typically known for Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet, but recently the city completed development of Kulturhavn Kronborg, a new cultural hub on the harbour which has helped update the city's image. The new M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark is worth the trip alone. Designed by the famous Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group, the Maritime Museum offers fascinating exhibits about Danish maritime trade and shipping within a brilliant work of architecture. The museum was built sunken into the ground around a former dry dock, to both honour the UNESCO World Heritage status of Kronborg Slot and to give the museum a subterranean, underwater atmosphere reminiscent of life on the water. A visit to Helsingør was the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning in Denmark.

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M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark
Ny Kronborgvej 1
3000 Helsingør
Denmark