COPENHAGEN.- The establishment of ARKEN’s new galleries for special exhibitions means that it is now possible too to present a selection of works from ARKEN’s permanent collection of art. One of the new features is a unique Damien Hirst room with ten works by the world-renowned artist.

The emphasis of ARKEN’s Collection is on art after 1990, and it is continually expanded with the most recent Danish and international art.

Since the early 1990s art has been characterised by a wealth of innovations in content and aesthetics. Therefore ARKEN has decided to focus on the art dealing with the fundamental existential conditions for man at the dawn of the 21st century.

There are two unifying principles in the Collection: one is art which through the depiction of the human body interprets our time; the other concerns installations, art that you can “enter” and sense with your own body.

The exhibition is the hitherto most comprehensive presentation of ARKEN’s collection, showing a number of key new acquisitions which have not previously been on display in the museum. Presented is painting, sculpture, installation art, video, graphics and photography by Lawrence Weiner, Marc Quinn, Olafur Eliasson, Mona Hatoum, Jeppe Hein, Elmgreen & Dragset, Anselm Reyle, Jesper Just, Tal R, Dan Graham, Sarah Lucas and Noble & Webster, a.o.

ARKEN collects Danish, Nordic and international art with special emphasis on contemporary art, i.e. works from 1990 onwards.

There are two unifying principles in the Collection: one is art concerned with the existence of modern man, the other focuses on art that via new forms, materials and media explores the very definition of art.

A visit at ARKEN should be an aesthetic, emotional and intellectual challenge. With the Collection we wish to show Danish art in a broader context, presenting our guests with an insight in the international art scene. ARKEN wishes the encounter with the museum's Collection to provide something to reflect upon, making us understand ourselves and our times better.