This collection of sculptures, created by Bjorn Norgaard in 2006, graces a newly constructed square near Copenhagen Harbor. The monument, which stands in a fountain at the center of the square, features a large triumphal arc with a genetically modified interpretation of the Madonna perched on top. Surrounding the arc is Eve, Mary Magdalene, Christ, Adam, a personification of capital and the Pregnant Man. In addition to these figures, a genetically altered little mermaid poses on a small island in Copenhagen Harbor. The sculptures are a meditation on the way genetic technology is changing -- and will continue to change -- the way humans perceive themselves. This collection of contemporary conceptual sculptures provide a great contrast to Copenhagen's many historic monuments.
The bronze rendering of the little mermaid, perched on a rock in Copenhagen's harbor, is one of the most visited sites in the city and one of the most photographed sculptures in the world. Carl Jacobsen commissioned Edvard Erikson to create the sculpture in 1909, after seeing a performance of the Ballet inspired by Hans Christen Anderson's fairy tale, "The Little Mermaid." In 1913, Jacobsen presented the sculpture to the city of Copenhagen, and it has since become an iconic monument. Every year, on August 23, women jump into water around the statue to commemorate the little mermaid's birthday. Tourists can view the statue from the shore or they can take a canal tour to get a view from the water.
Constructed in the early seventeenth century, this monument sits at the center of Gammel Torv Square. The fountain, a tribute to generousity and charity, features a rendering of the goddess Caritas perched atop a black and gold basin. When the fountain was built, it stood at the intersection of Copenhagen's most important streets. It was once an important part of the city's water supply system. On royal birthdays, as well as on Constiution Day, golden apples float atop the jets of water that spray from the fountain.
