Scan Magazine
Attraction of the Month
|
|
Denmark
Kunsthal NORD only presents new exhibitions created specifically for the art centre’s unique exhibition space inside Aalborg’s old power plant, Nordkraft.
In 2015, We are all workers by Mikkel Carl gained much attention nationally and internationally.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Experimental art at the end (or beginning) of Denmark Like London’s Tate Modern, Kunsthal NORD Contemporary Art Centre is located inside an iconic old power plant. However, Kunsthal NORD is not set in London but in Denmark’s northernmost city, Aalborg. Artistic director Henrik Broch-Lips talks to Scan Magazine about the challenges and benefits of presenting new experimental and non-commercial art at the end, or, as he would rather have it, beginning of Denmark. By Signe Hansen
|
Photos: Niels Fabæk
When Kunsthal NORD presented an art show of broken walls, worksite waste and blinded doorways in 2015, many visitors left a bit perplexed. By restructuring the rooms and leading visitors into new spaces, artist Mikkel Carl’s work illustrated that nothing was what it used to be. Nor was, in some people’s opinions, the art what art used to be. “Our art often challenges the viewers, and not everyone leaves the building with great applause – we do have some visitors asking where the art is,” says Broch-Lips without any hint of regret – maybe because challenging the concept of art in this way has won the centre both international attention and national awards. 122
|
Issue 101
|
June 2017
From industrial to cultural power house Once a provider of electricity for all of Aalborg, the Nordkraft power plant is today one of the city’s central cultural hubs. The building’s mix of original raw concrete and white gallery walls provides a challenging and inspiring setting for artists, curators and viewers alike. “It wouldn’t make sense to take an existing art show and exhibit it here, because the architecture is so overpowering. It has the power to steal a lot, but also to give a lot if you work the art into the context,” stresses Broch-Lips. For this reason, for the last three years all the centre’s exhibited artists have
been asked to create works specifically for Kunsthal NORD. “The contextual is not just in relation to the architecture, but also our location in northern Jutland,” says Broch-Lips. “In a way, we’re the last point in Denmark – but I like to turn that around and call it the first point, the point where things begin.” Upcoming exhibitions at Kunsthal NORD: 17 June-6 Aug: Uden Titel 17 – New works by eight of Denmark’s most talented new artists. 12 Aug-10 Sep: What’s Wrong – young Swiss and Danish art. 16-27 Aug: As part of the Aalborg Art Festival, Kunsthal NORD will create 15 white cubes with individual art exhibitions all over Aalborg. Admission is free to all exhibitions.
For more information, please visit: www.kunsthalnord.dk