Press Information
November 2006

Copenhagen Gets a New Mermaid

In September Copenhagen unveiled a new landmark: a post-modern sister to the famous Little Mermaid. The new mermaid is part of the sculpture group Paradise Genetically Altered, created by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard. The sculptures are located at Langelinie in Copenhagen harbour, not far from the current Little Mermaid.

The sculpture group Paradise Genetically Altered, created by Bjørn Nørgaard, provides Copenhagen with a new, unconventional piece of art. Situated at Langelinie on the harbour near the old protected warehouse, Dahlerups Pakhus, the provocative sculpture group is encircled by a 400-square meter granite basin filled with water. The centrepiece of the sculpture group is a 40-ton triumphal arch, on top of which stands a nine-meter genetically altered figure of the Madonna. Surrounding the Madonna are six other figures: Adam, Eve, Christ, Mary Magdalene, The Tripartite Capital and The Pregnant Man. The genetically altered Mermaid is also a part of the group, although she has a special location in the harbour on an islet of stone in the water only a few hundred meters from her older sister.

Humoristic Humans
Paradise Genetically Altered is Bjørn Nørgaard's reflection on the genetic technologies of today's society. The artwork represents a provocative and humoristic comment on post-modern society. It is his three-dimensional statement about human beings, genetic technology, the future and a prophecy about human appearance in 100 - 200 years.

The Little Mermaid's Little Sister
The genetically altered Mermaid is a contrast to the existing Little Mermaid, which for many Danes represents a fairy tale Denmark, far from the innovative and modern Copenhagen of today. However, The genetically altered Mermaid personifies similar values as depicted in the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about the Little Mermaid: The choices we make in life - expressed in the story about love, longing and sacrifice of the Little Mermaid who falls in love with a prince.

Lars B. Jørgensen, managing director of Wonderful Copenhagen CVB says:
- The dualistic balance between the two different mermaids is a perfect representation of the classic and the contemporary Copenhagen. Though the new mermaid may seem very controversial to people who associate the mermaid symbol with a fairy tale Denmark, it is in this image of The genetically altered Mermaid we find a new transgressive landmark for Copenhagen.

The artist, Bjørn Nørgaard, is notorious for his inventive commentary on contemporary society, and his artistic range is extensive. He is acclaimed for his creation of the Tapestries for the Queen of Denmark and for The Horse Sacrifice, where he cut up a horse and placed it in jam jars in 1970.

The sculptures and the new outdoor space is made possible by Ny Carlsbergfondet, Realdania, Københavns Havn, Dronningens Erindringsmønt, Bech-Brun, FIH Erhvervsbank, Ole Kirks Fond, BG Fonden and the residents' association of Langelinie number 5. The sculptures were originally made for the world exhibition EXPO 2000 in Hanover.

Further Information
Director of Public Relations, Mette Dahl-Jensen, Wonderful Copenhagen, tel: +45 3355 7435, e-mail: mdj@woco.dk