Art will make the Danish pavilion stand out

The synthesis of BIG’s architecture and the art works created by three very talented, young Danish artists will make the pavilion stand out in Shanghai, says associate professor, Dr Maria Fabricius Hansen of the New Carlsberg Foundation, one of the national partners in the Danish Expo project. 

On a narrow street in the inner part of Copenhagen lies an old courtyard paved with cobblestones. It was once the home of the Danish brewer, Carl Jacobsen, famous not only for producing Carlsberg beer but also for his passion for art and generous art donations which included the Little Mermaid, to the Danes. Today, the courtyard houses the New Carlsberg Foundation, founded by Jacobsen and his wife in 1902 with the aim of supporting the arts in Denmark. The New Carlsberg Foundation has been involved in Danish Expo projects in the past, but this time the Danish Expo pavilion matches the aim of the foundation extraordinarily well, says associate professor, Dr Maria Fabricius Hansen, who is a member of the board of directors.

-  The special thing about the Danish Expo 2010 pavilion is that art is an integrated part of the pavilion. In my view, this creates a very positive image of Denmark, leading to  extremely favourable branding of the Danish companies involved, says Dr Maria Fabricius Hansen.

What were your contributions at past Expos?

- Our previous contributions were major works of art in their own right. They were, however, more an addition to the pavilion, such as a sculpture by Bjørn Nørgaard called the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid, or monumental ceramic art by Peter Brandes. But this time architecture and art is an integrated whole. We have contributed to financing works of art as artistic elements of the pavilion, i.e. the photos by Peter Funch and the films by Martin de Thurah, not documentary films or presentations of Danish products. Furthermore, Jeppe Hein has created a fountain and a continuous bench that transcend conventional functional design and become playful and surprising sculptures within the architectural context. These artworks may unfold a narrative and illustrate Danish values, yet they also possess an artistic and a poetic edge. They will brand Denmark indirectly and show that culture and art are not just something superfluous to be  discarded in times of crisis but that, actually, art and culture are of the utmost essence, especially when times are tough, as they are the glue that helps hold society together.

Which kind of experience do visitors get when they enter the Danish pavilion?

- They will feel a sense of relief inside the Danish pavilion because it is free of propagandistic advertising. It is going to be a place rich in exciting experiences, a place that people will find entertaining and also slightly peculiar. There is the Harbour Pool with the Little Mermaid in the middle; the pavilion has a beautiful spiral shape that visitors can explore while looking at photos and films and enjoying Jeppe Hein's furniture, and they can enjoy the nice view from the roof. That makes it an unpretentious and informal pavilion that hopefully will highlight some important urban values to people from all over the world.

The project team behind the Danish pavilion, BIG architects and 2+1 Ideas Agency, has selected Danish artists that are all quite young and still have a long career ahead of them. What do you think about this choice?

- We support it wholeheartedly because it is a good and consistent choice. I think that many young artists, compared to older and more established artists, are very skilled at cooperating and being part of a major project. You could say that there has been a change in the concept of art within the last 30 or 40 years. Before, it was more about the piece of art itself, the unique piece of art and the unique artist, whereas now the artist appreciates teamwork and the fact that the work of art connects with the surroundings.

Why is a world exhibition a good forum for the New Carlsberg Foundation?

- It is only a good forum when values are displayed that extend beyond the purely commercial. Our trust deed was originally founded in a Danish context and we usually support Danish art. But the broader aim of the trust deed is to support the interest in art in general, and as we live in a world where it is no longer possible to detach Denmark from the rest of the world, any cultural enlightenment is certainly in our interest. 

The Little Mermaid is going to Shanghai as part of a cultural exchange between Denmark and China. What do you think about this idea?

- I think it is a very good idea proposed by the project team. The Mermaid is the symbol of Copenhagen, and it was only logical that we saw this through by exchanging her for a Chinese work of art at Langelinie. It is amazing that Ai Weiwei, one of the most interesting contemporary Chinese artists, has accepted to do a piece in exchange for her. His work is not only a stand-in for the Mermaid. Rather, he thematises the exchange itself by creating a video installation where you will see the Mermaid in Shanghai. What makes it a good idea is also that we are lending out something that is valuable to Copenhagen as a city. Thus, we demonstrate openness and willingness to dialogue and exchange in the context of an expo that focuses on better city life. 

Critiques have argued that we should just send a copy of the Mermaid to Shanghai instead of the real statue. Do you agree?

- I think it is a very important point to send the real Mermaid and not a copy to China. Perhaps you could say that it is less important whether the Chinese care or not about the authenticity of the statue. Perhaps it is more important that we as Danes lend out something that is valuable to us. It is in the act of generosity and in the message saying that we really want an exchange with China that we demonstrate our curiosity and openness to another culture. If we had made a copy, the whole point would be missed. We do not send the Mermaid to Shanghai claiming that she is a really great and important work of art. It is not about lending out a fine and aesthetically valuable work of art but about lending out something that is an important element in the city of Copenhagen, something that all the tourists come to admire.    

Can you elaborate on which kind of artist Ai Weiwei is?

- He is, of course, immensely famous and has exhibited in important places all over the world. But the most important thing is the way he unites his art with a political and social commitment. That is what distinguishes him from many other shooting stars on the global art scene, and this makes his participation in the expo project an obvious choice, with its social agenda of better cities.