13 contemporary artists challenge the monument tradition of the University of Copenhagen

With RECAST, we invite 13 contemporary artists to rethink and challenge this monument tradition, which has for centuries materialised what people and events we as a society honour and commemorate. A selection of the university's historical busts have been relocated to the University Library, where they are brought into dialogue with new contemporary artworks by:

Anne-Mette Schultz, benandsebastian, Elisabeth Toubro, Henriette Heise, Ida Kvetny, Jeannette Ehlers, Jóhan Martin Christiansen, Julie Edel Hardenberg, Lea Guldditte Hestelund, Lea Porsager, Maria Nørholm Ramouk, Nanna Debois Buhl and Noah Umur Kanber.

Each of the artists occupies their own reading room niche, creating interventions with artworks of different sizes and in different media that hack the architecture of the university and uncover new notions of research and the exchange of knowledge in the old university library.

RECAST is not just a celebration of a historical milestone. It's about imagining a different kind of future for the university and for society – a future where knowledge is not produced in isolation but through a multitude of voices, collaboration and recognising the body as a sensory, thinking and inclusionary part of knowledge production.

In tandem with the exhibition, the public is invited to participate in the conversation through a series of artist talks, performances and interdisciplinary conversations in the library.

The exhibition is curated by Amalie Skovmøller, Ida Højgaard Thjømøe and Mathias Danbolt and is part of the University of Copenhagen's 150th anniversary programme. Read more about the programme here: kvinder150.ku.dk

RECAST is part of the Moving Monuments research project, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The exhibition is generously supported by the New Carlsberg Foundation, the 15. Juni Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation, the Danish Arts Foundation, the Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansens Foundation and Knud Højgård's Foundation.

Event programme

28 August, 17:00-19:00: Exhibition opening with speeches by prorector Kristian Lauta and the curators. Performance by Noah Umur Kanber and Ida Kvetny.

2 September, 17:00-18:00: Artist talk with Ida Kvetny and Elisabeth Toubro, moderated by Amalie Skovmøller.

9 September, 17:00-18:00: Artist talk with Maria Nørholm Ramouk and Noah Umur Kanber, moderated by Amalie Skovmøller.

16 September, 17:00-18:00: Artist talk with Henriette Heise and Anne-Mette Schultz, moderated by Mathias Danbolt.

23 September, 17:00-18:00: Artist talk with Lea Guldditte Hestelund and Nanna Debois Buhl, moderated by Mathias Danbolt.

30 September, 17:00-18:00: Artist talk with Jeannette Ehlers and Lea Porsager, moderated by Ida Højgaard Thjømøe.

1 October, 17:00-18:00: Curator's tour with Ida Højgaard Thjømøe.

7 October, 17:00-19:00: Public Bust Retirement Index – performance and tribunal by benandsebastian.

8 October, 17:00-18:00: Curator's tour with Ida Højgaard Thjømøe.

25 October, 13:00-14:00: Curator's tour with Ida Højgaard Thjømøe.

18 November: Lea Porsager book launch.

29 November: Finnissage and artist talk with benandsebatian and Jóhan Martin Christiansen, moderated by Mathias Danbolt.

Stay tuned

Keep an eye on the University of Copenhagen website and social media for regular updates on RECAST events, workshops and tours.