Why do Jørn Utzon’s buildings remind us of clouds, waves, caves, palm leaves or sails filled by the wind?
In the exhibition Utzon and Modern Art, you can discover how Jørn Utzon found inspiration far beyond the world of architecture. Through some of his most visionary projects – presented alongside works by artists such as Asger Jorn and Ejler Bille – the exhibition explores how Utzon was part of an artistic community that sought to awaken the senses, imagination and dreams.
Jørn Utzon was an exceptional architect with a remarkable understanding of construction and engineering. His masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House, changed our understanding of what architecture could be and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But to Utzon, a building was much more than engineering. He believed that architecture should create experiences and enrich human life. This is why he worked with natural forms, symbolism, colour and daylight in much the same way as an artist works with brush and canvas.
The exhibition offers an insight into the artistic dimension of Utzon’s work and shows how modern art helped shape his architecture. It tells the story of an architect who did not simply design buildings, but created spaces that speak to the senses, imagination and emotions.
What to experience
The exhibition presents a selection of Jørn Utzon’s most visionary projects alongside paintings and sculptures from the world of modern art. It offers an insight into Utzon’s youth, when encounters with Expressionist and abstract artists such as Carl Kylberg and Povl Schrøder had a profound influence on his approach to architecture – even before he began his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.
In Utzon’s own words, this was where he learned “to see”. It marked the beginning of a lifelong fascination with the pioneers of modern art – from Le Corbusier and Fernand Léger, whom he visited and drew inspiration from, to the Danish CoBrA artists Asger Jorn and Ejler Bille, with whom he developed several projects.
The exhibition reveals the close connection between Utzon’s architecture and abstract art. His vision was that architecture – like art – should enrich human life and speak to something deeply sensory, instinctive and hopeful.
As an architect, Utzon worked almost like a painter with a brush or a sculptor with a chisel. He used colour, natural forms, daylight, symbolism and views to create buildings that speak directly to the senses and the imagination.
This ability to capture the moment became a defining feature of Utzon’s architecture. His buildings create spaces where, for a moment, you can sense just how beautiful life can be.
In collaboration with
VOLA er Principal Partner hos Utzon Center 