Portalen

Permanent Public Art 2021
Commisioned by Rønnebæksholm
Site: Rønnebæksholm 1, 4700 Næstved
About: The Portal is
Material: Oak beams
Measurements: L 3,5 m x W 3,5 m x H 6 m
Production in collaboration with Tømrerfirma Ejvind Nielsen A/S, Malermester Birthe Olsen, H. Nielsen & Søn AS, JUUL & KILDEMARK, Rådgivende Ingeniører FRI, Team Ejendomme, Park & Vej,

Supported by: Næstved Kommune, Nithona-fonden, KNO-fonden and The Danish Art Workshops SVKH
Accessibility: The park is open to the public all year round.

About: Just outside the Danish town of Næstved lies Rønnebæksholm, a kunsthal for contemporary art in a distinctive manor in historical natural surroundings. The large romantic park that meets the Manor Garden, a vegetable garden modeled after French archetypes. The two garden spaces have for years been hidden away from each other behind a close fence of bushes, trees and scrub. We were asked to engage in this area, creating a large main Portal and a smaller one in the other end of the central axis of the manor garden. The main portal is built up like an oak structure, that engages in a motivational dialogue with Rønnebæksholm's characteristic jagged gables. Between the vertical and horizontal posts, the arches form patterns that connects the portal to the organic nature. The symmetrical portal is located centrally in the transition between Rønnebæksholms Park and garden. Its design is like a face that flickers with the eyes to Venligheden (The Kindness)  -a small Poets Pavilion- and lets the visitor in through its gape. The portal – with the sibling Portal, the new fence creates a transition and connects the two gardens that was previously hidden away from each other.
The new Portals connects to our art commission in “Venligheden” (The Kindness)

Photo: Torben Petersen