Photo: ©Lucas Morgand

Can be experienced at Koldinghus from 2028

In 2018, Koldinghus celebrated its 750th anniversary, and a very generous donation from the New Carlsberg Foundation facilitated one of the largest decoration projects in Danish history: 16 new tapestries of the finest quality, created by four contemporary artists, were commissioned for the historic halls of the royal castle.

Kirstine Roepstorff, Bjørn Nørgaard, Tal R and Alexander Tovborg were chosen for the task and created 16 detailed “cartoons” that served as the basis for the tapestries. Three of the four large tapestries will be completed in spring 2025 by the traditional French weaving mill Gobelins Manufactory.

The artists have each based their work on themes originating in Koldinghus as a place and history. The themes are: Border Castle (Kirstine Roepstorff), King’s Castle (Alexander Tovborg), The Ruin (Tal R) and Rebuilding (Bjørn Nørgaard). Read more about the four artists here.

The tapestries combine contemporary imagery with traditional and historical craftsmanship that requires time and persistent attention to detail. For context, it has taken one weaver one year to weave one square metre. In an age where images and information flicker at a hectic pace and constantly demand attention, tapestries invite us to contemplate, reflect and dwell on the highly sensory craftsmanship. Read more about the craftsmanship behind the tapestries.

A total of 108 m2 will be produced, divided into four large tapestries, each measuring 3 x 6 metres, and 12
pieces between the windows of the halls, the so-called entre fenêtres, each measuring 2.8 x 0.8 metres.

In Paris, weavers are finishing up the large tapestries by Alexander Tovborg, Tal R and Bjørn
Nørgaard during spring 2025. The same goes for the weavers in Aubusson, south of Paris, who have created the entre fenêtres. In Beauvais, Kirstine Roepstorff’s large tapestry is still in progress, as it takes more time to translate Roepstorff’s detailed composition into a woven image.

15 of the tapestries will be exhibited in Paris in 2025 before they are all permanently displayed in the
ballroom and knights’ hall at Koldinghus in 2028, when the weaving of Roepstorff’s large tapestry has been completed.

The tapestries, all woven in France, will decorate two of the large halls at Koldinghus: the Ballroom and the Great Hall. The two halls used to be one large hall, created by Christian IV during a remodelling of the old royal palace in the early 1600s. When the tapestries move into Koldinghus, part of the original connection between the halls will be re-established. The tapestries also relate to the history of Koldinghus. Each artist interprets a theme related to Koldinghus in large format, although the extent and ways in which these themes unfold vary, as the artists have had complete artistic freedom in their execution of the commission.

The tapestries are exact replicas of the artists’ original cartoons. In 2019, the cartoons were exhibited in the halls of Koldinghus before being shipped to France, where they now serve as models for the weavers’ work under the supervision of the four Danish artists.

The project is made possible by a generous donation from the New Carlsberg Foundation