Valdemar’s Castle, a Renaissance castle on Tåsinge, Denmark, has reopened to the public as an art space after a period of turmoil involving a dispute between the two heirs, celebrity baroness Caroline Fleming and her younger sister, Louise Iuel-Brockdorff Albinus. The castle, originally built by Christian IV and owned by the Juel family since the 1600s, witnessed a public feud that led to Caroline Fleming putting the castle up for sale.

After years of conflict, Caroline Fleming’s son sold a significant portion of the castle’s inventory. Her sister, Louise “Duddi” Iuel-Brockdorff Albinus, eventually managed to buy back the castle, including the remaining inventory. This included priceless portraits by court painter Carl Gustaf Pilo, which could not be sold out of the country. These portraits have been returned to their original positions on the walls of the castle’s main building.

The reopened Valdemar’s Castle now features an art exhibition curated in collaboration with Galleri Susanne Ottesen. The exhibition is divided into four distinct sections, each interacting with the historical setting of the castle.

In the main house, German/Czech artist Jirí Georg Dokupil’s “soap bubbles” are displayed as paintings and mouth-blown bubble vases. Chinese artist Rong Bao has transformed the tea house with his kinetic plastic art piece, “The New Pontiff.” In the former riding hall, Danish artist Pernille With Madsen has created a total installation featuring a giant foot encapsulated in the remains of an old silo. Norwegian artist Hanne Lippard presents sound installations in the old grain drying barn, inviting visitors to meditate and listen to her poetry.

The exhibition aims to blend historical art objects with narrative modern art, creating a unique atmosphere that encourages visitors to experience Valdemar’s Castle in a new way. Louise “Duddi” Iuel-Brockdorff Albinus hopes that this new role as an “art space” will attract tourists and preserve the castle as a valuable monument.