SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark SMK - The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries. SMK is located just off of Copenhagen's Nørreport station. Here you can experience special exhibitions, the royal collections, guided tours, performances, art talks, concerts, workshops and much more. At the SMK you can enjoy the grand masters of art history along with cutting-edge contemporary artists and the rising stars of the art scene. No other museum in Denmark shows such a rich and varied selection of art – from the European classics of the Renaissance to the overwhelming diversity of modern and contemporary art. Here you will find gems by artists such as Mantegna, Nolde, Anna Ancher, Derain, Rubens, Matisse, Hammershøi, Munch, Abramovic, Danh Vo and Elmgreen & Dragset. SMK is especially famous for its beautiful collection of Danish Golden Age art, the country’s most comprehensive collection of Danish contemporary art – and one of the world’s best Matisse collections. Special Exhibitionss (smk.dk): Against All Odds - Historical Women and New Algorithms 31/8-8/12/24 During the years 1870-1910, a number of Nordic female artists achieved success against all odds. However, despite their success, they were later forgotten and quietly disappeared from history. What happened? We investigate this question, bring the artists back into the spotlight and explore how artificial intelligence can be used to understand and communicate history in new ways. Success against all odds All 24 artists in the exhibition have one thing in common: they left their Nordic home countries to pursue their artistic ambitions abroad in places such as Germany, Italy, France and Greece. There, they met other women in the same situation, forming networks across national borders. These international networks became a support — a cosmopolitan alternative to their home countries, where they had limited opportunities to train and work as artists. As a result, they all managed to achieve success and recognition in their own time. But later, a conservative backlash against women emerged — and they were all more or less written out of history. Experience a major interactive installation by Ix Shells In the exhibition, you will encounter both spectacular artworks by the 24 artists and digital installations based on artificial intelligence. These installations use the women’s artworks, biographies and research to tell their collective story. One of today’s leading digital artists, Itzel Yard (b. 1990), also known as Ix Shells, has developed an interactive installation for the exhibition. In the installation, data about the 24 women is transformed into abstract forms that surround you and react to your movements. With this work, Ix Shells strives to unite the historical with the digital in a bodily and sensory experience.     

Vivid colours and grand architectural design characterise the museum, which houses the works of the world-famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Thorvaldsens Museum opened on September 18th 1848 and was the first public museum in Denmark. The characteristic building was built to exhibit the extensive works of the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Today the museum looks more or less as it did when it opened over 150 years ago. A tour of the museum reveals a very special opportunity to enjoy world-class art and architecture. The museum houses the work of the world-famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844). Located at Slotsholmen in the heart of Copenhagen the museum is very close to some of the most popular attractions of the city.  Their free audio guide offers visitors a glimpse into the history of the sculptures which represents Roman gods and famous historical personages. Flora Italica: 17.6.23-24.9.24 Thorvaldsen’s sculptures have in their own way contributed to the danish flora as we know it today. In our upcoming focus exhibition FLORA ITALICA we introduce our guests to the flora and biodiversity of Thorvaldsen’s time.  The exhibition is based on the poetic but true story, that an Italian flower field blossomed on the square in front of the museum in the 1840’s. This botanical phenomenon occurred because Thorvaldsen’s sculptures were wrapped in Italian hay on their transport from Rome to Copenhagen. During the unwrapping of the artworks, large quantities of hay were disposed off in front of the museum, and the seeds began to blossom creating an Italian meadow.    In the exhibition the museums court yard will be transformed into an Italian meadow, using recreations of the original seeds from Thorvaldsen’s time. The American artist Crystal Bennes revives the ancient meadow – thus creating a tangible and visual aspect to our days problems with biodiversity. Guests will also be able to experience new contemporary art works with a focus on the beauty of plant structure and biodiversity.   The botanist Johan Lange collected a large number of the Italian plants, and had them preserved for future generations. These specimens will be exhibited for the very first time, along with the new works by contemporary artists.  Come by and experience the original Italian meadow, dive into the beauty of plants and learn more about the challenges we face in our current biodiversity. 

Statues in heathery hills and concrete architecture Men and women in bronze are looking over the heathery hills in the park. And in the impressive octagonal room in the museum, where the ceiling is 11 metres above you, you find more men and women, now in white plaster. It is a very special experience walking around in Rudolph Tegner’s Museum and the Statue Park – a calm yet intense experience where beautiful nature and bombastic concrete architecture are combined.   Use the route-planner in the Copenhagen Card app the find the easiest route. A walk in Russia The natural resort where you find Rudolph Tegner’s statues is called Russia. The rather special name relates to the remoteness of the place. However, from Russia and Rudolph Tegner’s Museum to the nearest town, i.e. Dronningmølle in North Sealand, is only 2 kilometres. In the park, you find 14 Rudolph Tegner statues while walking around the heathery hills outside the museum. See the art in Rudolph Tegner’s Statue Park. Almost like a church The museum room was designed by Rudolph Tegner himself with the purpose of housing all his artworks. It was built in 1937-38, and when walking through the large port, you almost feel like being in a church room. The solid walls, the high ceiling and the absence of large windows make all sounds resonate between the statues. The permanent collection counts 355 of Rudolph Tegner’s artworks. Most of them are originals in plaster; others are in bronze and marble. Climbing trees and activities for children Children are welcome at the museum. In Statue Park, there are climbing trees. You can also go treasure hunting or orienteering during your visit – both require that you have information about the artworks. If you want to be creative, you can visit the drawing workshop to try to draw various artworks. Activities for children all over North Sealand. Søren’s Café When you have walked the hills and experienced the octagonal museum room, you can visit the café where you can get lunch or a cup of coffee. The café at Rudolph Tegner’s Museum is open in the summer half. They serve coffee, tea, cake, sandwiches, ice cream, etc. Here you find the opening hours of Café Søren at Rudolph Tegner’s Museum. One of Denmark’s great sculptors Rudolph Tegner was educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1893. His art was very controversial at that time. His work is intense, dramatic and huge and comes under the art form called vitalism. And they formed a great contrast to other Danish sculptors such as Bertel Thorvaldsen. For a great part of his artistic life, Rudolph Tegner lived in France and 1916; he bought the area outside Dronningmølle, where he constructed his museum. Here, he is buried together with his wife, Elna. Combine your trip to Tegner's museum with a nice day-trip to the beach town Hornbæk