ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art Museum Opened In 1996 In A Ship Like Building On The Koge Bay Beach, With An Art Park And A Permanent Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room · Ishoj, Capital Region of Denmark

ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art stands on the shore of Koge Bay at Ishoj, roughly 20 km south-west of central Copenhagen. Opened in 1996, it is housed in a long white building designed by the young architect Soren Robert Lund, which rises from the dunes of an artificial beach park like a stranded ship, with a long gallery nicknamed the art axis running through it. The museum shows international and Nordic art from the 1990s onwards and has a collection that is said to include major works by Damien Hirst, Olafur Eliasson and other leading names, as well as large changing exhibitions. Its best known single work is an infinity mirror room by Yayoi Kusama, said to be on permanent display. Outside, an art park of sculptures runs through the dunes to the beach. People come for big-name exhibitions, the Kusama room, the building by the sea and a beach walk after. The honest caveat: it is out in the suburbs, the last stretch from Ishoj station takes planning, and the experience depends heavily on which temporary exhibition is on.

ARKEN, Skovvej, Ishoj Strand, south-west of Copenhagen, Ishoj, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

ARKEN is open all year, usually Tuesday to Sunday with Mondays closed, with one longer evening opening a week and extended hours in some holiday periods; it closes on a few public holidays such as Christmas - check the current schedule. From Copenhagen Central take the S-train line A to Ishoj, roughly 20-25 minutes, then either walk roughly 25-35 minutes (about 2-2.5 km) through the town and beach park, or take a local bus towards Ishoj Strand - confirm the route and times. By car it is about 20 km, 20-30 minutes, with a car park by the museum. Tickets can be bought at the door or online; booking ahead is wise for popular exhibitions and for time slots in the Kusama room if they apply.

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