Fun facts about the Faculty: Art

Just over 1,000: That’s how many works of art are hanging or situated at Aarhus University, and at Health we also have our share, in all sizes. You may have noticed the bronze relief at the entrance to the Skou Building or stumbled upon the ‘Sundial’ at the Lakeside Lecture Theatres, but did you know that...

Photo: Lars Kruse, AU Foto
  • ... Per Kirkeby did not actually paint the ceiling fresco in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres? Not alone, at any rate. He had help from two assistants, and it took them three months to create the 500 sq m work. Erik Peitersen, one of the assistants, later became a well-known figure and starred in a number of TV programmes, including Vild Med Dans. Peitersen was Kirkeby’s assistant for 35 years.
  • ... it was thanks, but no thanks from former Dean Lars Bo Nielsen when he received his parting gift? He was otherwise genuinely pleased with the 90 x 160 cm aerial photo of Aarhus University. The idea was that the picture would hang in his office in the Danish Medicines Agency, of which he became director. But it turned out that Lars Bo Nielsen would be working in a large open-plan office, so the picture remained where it was taken. Now it hangs in the foyer of the Victor Albeck building, where it can be enjoyed by anyone who needs to see things a little from above.
  • ... we have a small white horse housed in the basement? Artist Pontus Kjerrman created the two large horses in the IFS cafeteria area, and he also designed the statuettes that are awarded to Denmark’s Best Hospital and Best Theses at the Dagens Medicin annual awards ceremonies – many of which have gone to AUH. At one time there was a statue of a horse in the Dean’s office. Now it’s gone off on an escapade. Some say the horse is in a packing case in the basement of one of Health’s buildings. Others say it has galloped eastwards.