Arken Museum

ARKEN Museum of Modern Art () is a state-authorised private non-profit charity and contemporary art museum in Ishøj, near Copenhagen. The museum is among Denmark's major contemporary and modern art collections, holding a variety of international cultural works and exhibitions. The museum was designed by Søren Robert Lund and was authorised by Copenhagen County. It was inaugurated on 15 March 1996 and was conceived by Queen Margrethe.

Arken Museum of Modern Art's collection contains major works of over 400 Danish, Scandinavian and International post-war art. Arken, due to its synthesis of contemporary art, maritime architecture and landscape, is also considered as a milestone in Danish architecture. The museum focuses on an overview of contemporary and modern art, presenting cultural and research-based exhibitions, architecture and design, sculptures, paintings, prints, site installations and mixed-media displays.

History, context and influences

Arken (Danish for ‘the Ark’), was created and publicised in 1996, featuring an amassed assemble of international works.

The museum re-opened in January 2008 after major refurbishing, which included an expansion providing an additional 50% of gallery-space.

Conception

In the 20th century, there was a global growth of contemporary art museums. Collectively, this influenced a rise and a prominent increase in cultural institutions to showcase both local and international art. It has played a major role in the development and collection of contemporary art.

In 1988, an architectural competition for the creation of a new contemporary art museum in southwest of Copenhagen was held. A design put forward by Søren Robert Lund won first-prize. The name, ''Arken'', was also chosen from the competition. The initial idea was for Arken to be located on the beach as a characteristic maritime architectural form to reflect its Danish title. However, due to conservation concerns, the museum was built further back.

Svend Jakobsen was chairman of the museum between 1997 and 2007.

21st Century

Arken underwent two major renovation and expansion projects, designed by original architect Søren Robert Lund alongside C.F. Møller Architects. The museum encompassed permanent collections and donations of works from 2005-2008 by Damien Hirst, Marc Quinn, Mona Hatoum, Jeppe Hein, Jeff Koons and Elmgreen & Dragset.

The museum also published the ''Arken Bulletin'', a discussion for academics regarding artistic theory and museology.

Each year, Arken awards the ''ARKENs kunstpris'' prize– 100,000 Danish kroner– to a contemporary artist.

Architecture

The museum building is deconstructive and nautically-inspired.

Arken's formal plan incorporates assembled building parts, split and fragmented to create a fragmented ship form and a floor plan with slanted angles. Contrasting colours of grey to red walls, large open rooms to small rooms, and slanted building angles with curved galleries creates visible deconstructionist styles.

Extensions

Since its inauguration in 1996, the museum has undergone numerous expansions and renovations. One, in 2008, furnished the museum with an additional 50% of gallery space. The expansion allowed the museum to shift its focus on paintings, design and artworks on paper to include sculptural works.

Extension 1: 2008-2009

The Museum reopened its doors publicly on 5 September 2009, following a renovation executed by Arken's original architect Søren Robert Lund and design partner, C. F. Møller Architect. The refurbishment consisted of 3 sections: a new sculpture gallery and main entrance by Søren Robert Lund, and education and experience workshop areas designed by Anna Maria Indrio of CF Møller Architects.

This extension significantly expanded Arken's new exhibit room to , and a total area of . The museum removed load-bearing walls or columns in all individual rooms, with the new exhibition hall structured as four white quadrants. Air conditioning structures were recessed into walls and security equipment was placed in floor boxed beneath steel plates, as C.F. Møller aimed to retain Arken's "existing facade’s rhythm and proportions."

The ceilings were lowered, and a new white box design was introduced. The annex's designer was Anna Maria Indrio

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