Mie Olise Kjærgaard: “Copenhagen stands out with its abundance of water and long light.”
Mie Olise Kjærgaard, 51, trained visual artist. Currently exhibiting her largest solo exhibition in Denmark, Agile Aggressions, at Trapholt. Lives in Copenhagen.
1. When does Copenhagen feel most like your city?
"I like Copenhagen best when there is no wind. I often cycle through the city with a lot of stuff, and it's best when there is no wind. The mirrored surfaces are clean and double the light and lines of the view. I have lived for several years in London, New York, and San Francisco, and where Copenhagen really stands out, in my opinion, is in the amount of long light and water surfaces—and, of course, that you can jump into the harbor."
2. What hidden gem in the city is almost too good to share?
“I love structures, bridges, and harbors. It's a very special experience to stand in the middle of the bicycle railway bridge at Carlsberg Byen towards Vestre Kirkegaard and look down at the tracks. I remember coming into Copenhagen that way by train as a teenager. It was very special.”
Carslbergviadukten
3. Which place in the city do you always return to?
"I have had many locations in the city because, as an artist, I have been involved in revitalizing new neighborhoods before they became trendy and expensive. I have had studios in the A-house at Islands Brygge, in Tom's Chocolate Factory, at Carlsberg, in Den Røde by in Nordhavn, and on Rentemestervej while the neighborhoods were being developed. I think the raw areas of the city are important; they are ‘empty pores’ and thus a place where dreams can unfold. I am sad that these spaces of potential are being closed off in urban planning because it pushes the original ideas out of the city if they are not lucrative. Unfortunately, I believe that this way of thinking will ultimately prove both unprofitable and boring.”
The new M4 line, where art takes center stage, is absolutely amazing. Especially René Schmidt's two works on Sluseholmen are a wild experience - like I-Robot meets Acropolis.
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4. What is your top tip for a unique experience in Copenhagen?
"My best tip is to buy a bottle of wine and some oysters and find the last ray of sunshine at a harbor dock or somewhere you can climb up - with a sweet friend and a blanket under your arm."
5. Which metro station is your favorite?
"I think the new M4 line, where art takes up a lot of space, is absolutely fantastic. In particular, René Schmidt's two works on Sluseholmen are a wild experience - like I-Robot meets Acropolis - and I can't resist expanding the scale even more in an already large construction. It wakes me up and hits me right in the Solar Plexus."
Mie Olise is especially fond of the art on Sluseholmen
Experiences with the Metro
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