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Two competitions to provide art for the Maersk Tower

The iconic building the Maersk Tower has rapidly become a landmark structure for Copenhagen Science City

The Danish Building and Property Agency has published two calls for artworks for the Maersk Tower. A landmark building in the innovation district Copenhagen Science City, the new building houses parts of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. High-level artists have been invited to compete for creating two signature works for the distinctive building.

Challenging art to place university on world map

The two calls are for a film and a piece of spatial art. The purpose of the two works is to create cohesion through the structure. From the forecourt on Blegdamsvej to Nørre Allé on the opposite side of the building. Both works will be based on the concept of transformation, which is central to the Maersk Tower art strategy. The works should provide a challenging art experience to users and visitors as well as placing the building and the University of Copenhagen on the map in Denmark and internationally.

International names invited

For the film contest, two artist outfits participate. The French-Italian film artists Bêka & Lemoine and Icelandic visual artist Ragnar Kjartansson. The competition for the spatial artwork invites a strong Nordic field. Swedish Gunilla Klingberg, the Danish-Norwegian duo Elmgreen & Dragset and Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson have all been invited to give a visionary bidding on how art can unfold and create a new story.

Openness an important signal

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Ulla Wever, emphasizes that the works of art must both emphasize the openness of the university and the international level of health research and its significance to society:

“It is important for us, that we are seen as an open university that has an international perspective and creates great value for society. Both in terms of our health research and by educating thousands of young people for the health sector. I want the two works of art to emphasize this openness and to contribute to making everyone feel welcome and wanting to return. The art is a unique, inspiring and indispensable element in creating the inviting atmosphere that we want the Maersk Tower and Campus Park to have. “

Ready for impact in 2018

The artists’ proposals for the two competitions must be handed in respectively on August 14th and September 4th 2017. The art committee then decides which two works are to be realised. The commissioned works must be finished by the end of 2018.