Love, war and art in the Öresund region
The Öresund region melds the Skåne region of Sweden with the Själland, Lolland-Falster, Mön and Bornholm regions of Denmark. Skåne was once a part of Denmark, before Sweden grabbed it back in the 17th century. The countries were always really joined at the hip and the striking Öresund bridge – itself a piece of contemporary art – that joins the two countries is the physical manifestation of this.
On the Swedish side of the water lie Malmö, Helsingborg and Lund, each represented by major public art galleries. For example, the very fine Malmö Konsthall would be worth visiting for its use of light and space even if there was no art in sight. The main hall is one of Europe’s largest for contemporary art and it is used to brilliant effect to present its collections.
The paintings, sculptures, installations etc cover the major modern and contemporary movements and styles and are set against a background of natural and artificial light that gives the artist unlimited possibilities to present their art and you to view it. Also in Malmö, the city’s Art Museum houses a comprehensive collection of Nordic art encompassing paintings, sculptures, furniture, decorative and applied arts, drawings and prints.
In Helsingborg you will find Dunkers kulturhus, part of the network of museums of the city. Here there is an art gallery, exhibitions, restaurant and bistro, music, theatre, shops and cultural-historical exhibitions. Also check out private gallery Galleri Oskar when you’re in town.
According to the people who run Lunds Konsthall, it should be a meeting place where international art should be seen and discussed. Which is exactly what you should do. Because it presents 4-5 exhibitions per year, incorporating known and less well known Nordic and international names.
Now is a great time to come to the Öresund region, one of the newest areas of Europe, to see its modern art reflecting this time of enormous charge for this part of the world.
Malmö has earned an impressive international reputation as an art city, with several world class art venues, despite the recent closure of the renowned Rooseum art centre. Malmö Konstmuseum (Malmö Art Museum), one of the largest in Sweden and splendidly located in the Malmöhus Renaissance castle, boasts an impressive permanent collection of art and style history, from the 1500s to present times.
Malmö is one of the few cities anywhere where you can enjoy fine sandy beaches and the summer heat without leaving the city. The 2.5 kilometre long Ribersborg beach – Scandinavia’s Copacabana - is where the young, the old, the bold and the beautiful of Malmö and visitors from around the world enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or just generally lazing around the summer months.