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Museums and exhibition venues
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ARoS has put Århus firmly on the map as a city of art and culture. Visitors from both Denmark and from around the world flock to the red brick museum, which has become a strong competitor to the city hall as Århus’ architectural trade mark.
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ARoS – Århus’s new trademarkARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum has become Århus’ new and powerful trademark. It has become the icon of a city which has moved into the higher stratospheres of the artistic world. The museum was ready in the spring of 2004, but few years after the inauguration the expectations of visitor numbers were more than fulfilled. In December 2006 visitor number 1,000,000 crossed the threshold, and this was more than twice as soon as anticipated when ARoS opened its doors on that fine April day.
The architecture
But it isn't accidental that the museum has created a stir. ARoS is one of Northern Europe's largest – and most beautiful – museums. From the very first sight the building impresses with its exceptional architecture created by the local Århus drawing office of Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen. The actual building is conceived like a cube that distributes itself over the 17,700 square meters of its nine storeys. If one stands in the middle of this light and airy building, there are clear views all the way up and down.
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The museum street, crossing through the building, leads to the two entrances and exits. And in the middle of the street the spiral staircase soars upwards in a manner reminiscent of the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The art
It isn't only the special exhibitions which lure people to ARoS; the permanent collection is also a huge magnet. The works of art, which run from 1770 to the present day, are presented in three different 1,060 square meter galleries. Among other things you will find the world's largest Per Kirkeby collection, displayed alongside works of art by international artists such as Bill Viola, Olafur Eliasson, Ron Mueck, Tony Oursler, James Turrell and Gilbert & George. ARoS has made its mark by also having the country's finest collection of Danish modernists from the beginning of the 20th century.
One of the museum's visions is to also focus on future-minded art, and this finds expression in, for example, the nine rooms in the downstairs area which has been devoted to international light, video and installation art.
Exhibitions
ARoS has presented a superb array of sensational international exhibitions through its existence. Every year there are three big international exhibitions on the agenda in the Special Exhibitions Gallery, while several smaller exhibitions are presented in the West Gallery. Among the big successes can be included Robert Rauschenberg, Michael Kvium, and Olafur Eliasson as well as the thematic exhibitions ‘Pop Classics’ and ‘Fairy Tales Forever’, which was a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen.
In recent time ARoS has among other things exhibited works by the American multi-artist Paul McCarthy and the innovative Japanese artist Mariko Mori.
At the museum's top floor is the ART restaurant with superb views of the entire city.
Aros Allé 2, Århus C
www.aros.dk
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The Aarhus Art Building
At the Aarhus Art Building the focus is firmly on contemporary art – whether it takes the form of paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, performance or video art.
The goal is to act as a display-window for the most recent trends and movements within national and international art. Experiences offered cover solo exhibitions, thematic exhibitions and special exhibitions for children and young people.
J. M. Mørks Gade 13, Århus C
www.aarhuskunstbygning.dk
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