Steven Holl and Kounellis open HEART
Herning’s new art museum is opened with world-class architecture and art
HEART, the new name of the museum, is a contraction of the words “Herning” and “art”
Press conference
Monday 7 September from 11.00 to 14.00
International architecture and Italian world art.
The architect, Steven Holl, and the artist, Jannis Kounellis, will attend the press conference.
Official opening of the new HEART
Monday 7 September at 17.00
In the presence of Steven Holl, and Jannis Kounellis
HEART Herning Museum of Contemporary Art is officially opened to the general public on 09.09.09, presenting a new house for the arts designed by the world-famous architect Steven Holl. And a special exhibition of works by Jannis Kounellis, one of the pre-eminent artists of Italy and our present time.
International architecture
Steven Holl’s ground-breaking museum building was inspired by Herning’s history as a textile town.
Moulded out of white concrete, the building has a crinkly, crumpled surface like fabric. The roof structure comprises five shells reminiscent of shirtsleeves cut lengthwise. A “concrete tent” is a term used affectionately by museum inspector Holger Reenberg to describe the museum, which is situated right across from the former art museum in Herning, surrounded by the magnificent geometric gardens, architecture by Utzon, and Ingvar Cronhammer’s sculpture Elia. Steven Holl is among the star architects of the world and has received numerous rewards for his work. HEART was designed on the basis of his personal interpretation of the landscape surrounding the museum.
”Freedom or Death – la libertá o morte ”
09.09.2009 – 10.01.2010
This exhibition is the first major presentation of Kounellis’ works in Scandinavia. Prior to this exhibition, audiences have been able to experience his art at MoMA in New York and the Tate in London, where an entire room is dedicated to him. For more than forty years, the septuagenarian Jannis Kounellis has been a prominent figure within contemporary art. Using materials such as steel, coal, fabric, sacks, coffee, fire, live animals, and human beings he creates radical and highly original sculptures, performances, and installations. As a young artist Kounellis worked with a sensibility and feel for materials that has a close affinity with those of his fellow Italian and artist Manzoni, of whose work HEART owns the world’s largest collection.
Program for the press conference in the museum restaurant, Brasserie Pedersbæk:
11.00 Museum director Holger Reenberg introduces the new museum building
11.15 Steven Holl speaks about his architecture
12.00 Lunch and the opportunity to see the new building
13.00 Jannis Kounellis and museum director Holger Reenberg speak on the subject of Kounellis’ works and conduct a tour of the exhibition.
Photos of Steven Holl’s building and works from the exhibition are available for download at www.heartmus.dk/presse
Registration: To arrange for catering and other practicalities we kindly ask all participants to confirm their attendance at both the press conference and official opening no later than 31 August; see contact information below.
We look forward to welcoming you at the new HEART.
For further information, please contact:
Lene Elsner, head of communication, tel. +45 9628 1704, le@heartmus.dk
Maria Larsen, press associate, tel. +45 2129 0581, ml@heart.dk
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herning museum of contemporary art
