The Lover's Twist - Sculpture
In the heart of King's Garden stands a sculpture that has fascinated art lovers for more than a century. Elskovskampen was created by the sculptor Johannes C. Bjerg and depicts a man and a woman locked in a close and dynamic embrace. When the work was first presented in 1922, it attracted considerable attention, and today it can be experienced in the historic surroundings of Odense Castle.
One of Johannes C. Bjerg's most celebrated sculptures
Elskovskampen was created during Johannes C. Bjerg's stay in Italy in 1921-22. The work was first exhibited at Den Frie Udstilling in Copenhagen in 1922, where it received an exceptionally positive response from contemporary art critics. The National Gallery of Denmark acquired a cast, and it soon came to be regarded as one of the most important examples of Danish sculpture from the period.
The sculpture portrays a man and a woman in a close and energetic embrace. The figures are intertwined in a movement that seems to continue around the work itself. No matter which angle you view it from, new shapes and details emerge.
From Italy to Odense
Odense Municipality acquired its cast of Elskovskampen in 1941 with support from foundation funding. Since then, the sculpture has been part of the city's public art collection and one of the notable works in King's Garden.
Cast in bronze, the sculpture's open setting allows visitors to experience it from every side. This reflects Bjerg's artistic approach, in which movement and flowing lines play an important role in the overall expression of the work.
The artist behind the sculpture
Johannes C. Bjerg (1886-1955) is regarded as one of the most significant Danish sculptors of the twentieth century. After training as a woodcarver, he travelled to Paris, where he became acquainted with the modern art scene and the circle surrounding Pablo Picasso. He later created a number of monuments and sculptures throughout Denmark and went on to serve as both professor and director of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
His work ranges from monumental public sculptures to more intimate figures, but Elskovskampen remains one of his most acclaimed creations.
Experience the sculpture in King's Garden
As you walk through King's Garden, you'll find Elskovskampen set among the historic surroundings of Odense Castle. Here the sculpture stands between the park's mature trees and open lawns, where it can be appreciated from every angle.
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