Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
HERNING & THE HEART OF ART
If you're a fan of modern art, chances are you've heard of Italian conceptual artist Piero
Manzoni (1933-63). What you may not know is that the biggest public collection of his
work is not in Milan, but on the eastern fringe of Herning (population 48,000), a regional
centre 40km west of Silkeborg. You'll find Manzoni's work, and that of visionaries such as
Dkr75/free; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun), Herning's striking contemporary-art museum. Designed
by US architect Steven Holl, its crumpled exterior walls and sleeve-inspired roof honour
the collection's founder, Danish shirt manufacturer and passionate art collector Aage
Damgaard (1917-91). In the summers of 1960 and 1961, Damgaard invited Manzoni to in-
dulge his creative spirit in Herning. The result: Herning's Manzoni legacy.
Across the street, the
Carl-Henning Pedersen and Else Alfelt Museum
(
www.chpeamuseum.dk
;
Birk Centerpark 1; adult/child Dkr40/free; 10am-4pm Tue-Sun) show-
cases the riotously colourful paintings, watercolours, mosaics, ceramics and sculptures
of artists Carl-Henning Pedersen (1913-2007) and Else Alfelt (1910-74); there's a large
sculpture park beyond the museum. Next door to HEART stands Danish architect Jørn
Utzon's 1970-designed
Prototype House
(closed to the public), while further south you'll
witness artist Ingvar Cronhammar's ominous
Elia
. Attracting lightning, shooting random
flames of gas, and looking straight off a Dr Whoset, it's northern Europe's largest sculp-
ture.
HEART and its neighbours aside, another reason to head to Herning is for an event at
Boxen
(
www.mch.dk
; Kaj Zartows Vej 7, Herning), a slick indoor sporting arena and concert
venue hosting big-name international touring acts (Lady Gaga, for example).
You might consider Herning as a day trip from Silkeborg, easily reached by train
(Dkr65, 40 minutes). For the museums, alight at Birk Centerpark station (not Herning
station), from where the sights are a short walk. Boxen arena is south of the city, off Hwy
15 (take the train to Herning Messecenter).
Ry
Pop 5700
