Museum
Trapholt Museum of Modern Art
Trapholt Museum of Modern Art is a museum.
About Trapholt Museum of Modern Art
Overview & Identity
Trapholt is a museum dedicated to contemporary art, design, and crafts, situated in Kolding, Denmark. Originally established in 1988 as Trapholt Kunstmuseum (Trapholt Museum of Art), it later shortened its name to reflect an expanded focus encompassing modern painting, crafts, design, and furniture design. The institution describes itself as a museum for these diverse fields and is recognized as one of the largest modern art and design museums in Denmark outside of Copenhagen, with a total area exceeding 2,500 square metres. It operates as an autonomous public institution and attracts significant visitor numbers, recording 82,994 visitors in 2018.
History & Founding
The museum was inaugurated in 1988 and is located in a scenic area overlooking the Kolding Fjord. A significant expansion occurred in 1996 to accommodate a growing furniture collection, specifically focusing on contemporary Danish furniture design. This expansion added a spiral architecture section inspired by the Guggenheim Museum. The museum's leadership includes Director Karen Grøn and Curator Vera Westergaard. In 2000, the museum gained international notability due to the 'Helena' controversy involving artist Marco Evaristti, which led to legal proceedings regarding animal cruelty charges against the then-director Peter Meyer, though he was eventually acquitted.
Building & Architecture
The museum's architecture is considered an attraction in itself, arranged around a central museum street with exhibition rooms offering various spaces to explore. The 1996 expansion features a distinctive spiral design inspired by the Guggenheim Museum. Outside, a powerfully sculptural wall separates the museum from the surrounding sculpture park. The facility includes a dedicated room for Richard Mortensen's paintings, created in close collaboration with the artist. The site also houses Arne Jacobsen's modular summer house, Kubeflex, which was created in 1969-70 and is the only one of its kind as it never entered production.
Collection Highlights
Trapholt holds a significant collection of Danish furniture design, including over 500 chairs from the 20th century, which is the largest such collection in Denmark. The museum also maintains extensive collections of crafts, primarily ceramics and textiles. A permanent exhibition features paintings by Richard Mortensen, one of the most important Danish artists of the twentieth century. The sculpture park features works by contemporary Danish artists such as Ingvar Cronhammar, Bjørn Nørgaard, Lars Ravn, and Søren Jensen. The Arne Jacobsen Kubeflex house is furnished entirely with Jacobsen's own designs and was previously used as a private summer house by the Jacobsen family before being moved to Trapholt in 2005.
Significance & Legacy
Trapholt is a major cultural institution in the Region of Southern Denmark, serving as a key venue for modern art and design outside the capital. Its unique combination of art, design, and craft collections, along with its distinctive architecture and sculpture park, makes it a significant tourist attraction. The museum's role in hosting controversial yet influential exhibitions, such as the 'Helena' installation, has contributed to its international profile in the contemporary art world. The preservation and display of the unique Arne Jacobsen Kubeflex house further cements its importance in the history of Danish design and architecture.