Buy tickets for adult online - children under the age of 18 have free access!

On February 8, 2023, the exhibition 'Monster' opens at Kronborg Castle. Here, 12 historical monsters have taken over the dark and rustic casemates of the Renaissance castle. Each monster represents some of the human emotions that everyone can feel and be challenged by in the course of a lifetime. 

"The monsters start the conversation about emotions in a fun and exciting way, because the emotions through the monsters become visual. It makes it easier for children to put into words the feelings they may have felt or will experience. What is this feeling, why do I feel this way and what can I do about it? These are the key questions that the exhibition will help with," says Christian Struckmann Irgens, director of the castle. 

The monsters are made by multi-artist Shane Brox, who has previously hosted several DR programmes and has also been behind a number of exhibitions at, among others, the Royal Danish Collection, the Natural History Museum and the Copenhagen Museum. All monsters are created from recycled and found materials such as foam mattresses, discarded dresses, tin cans, old curtains and Christmas decorations. 

"Many people think that monsters are a thing of the past and that they don't really exist. But we humans create monsters every day when we don't talk to each other properly - when we shout, argue, are selfish and dishonest, or when we're not good at communicating our feelings and needs. So each monster in the exhibition has an emotion attached to it, which we hope will inspire children and adults to talk about emotions at a time when pandemics, climate and world unrest are creating anxiety, fear and stress for many," says Shane Brox.

Danish cultural history and emotions as a universal language

For the past year, the monsters have been in the ruins under Christiansborg Castle, where around 100,000 people have seen the exhibition. But although the monsters have moved to a new home, don't expect the exhibition to be the same when the cellar doors to Kronborg Castle's casemates opens. 

"The monsters are based on historical monsters that were literally believed in during the renaissance, such as the bailisque, the maren or the kraken. That's why you can even recognise some of them around Kronborg Castle, where they hide in paintings or in the building itself, as they always have," explains Christian Struckmann Irgens, the castle's director. He adds:

"The monsters represent emotions that everyone experiences at some point. Even the people who have lived here at Kronborg over the years. Therefore, there is a clear bridge between the emotions that, for example, the soldiers of the castle or other residents of Kronborg have experienced over time. It can be sadness, fear, love, joy or sorrow. Feelings that you and I can also recognise and experience today."

It is not only the Danish public that can look forward to experiencing the Monster exhibition. Swedish, American and German tourists in particular are buying tickets for the Danish castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Runa Sabroe, development director at Wonderful Copenhagen, says:

"Elsinore is back as a destination for international tourists. Our latest analysis of summer tourism in Elsinore shows that Swedish tourists now account for one in four tourists to the city. We also see that 74% of the other international tourists come to the city on a day trip from Copenhagen. And they come not only to see historic buildings and feel the atmosphere, but also to be inspired and discover unique and original experiences. This is where the 'Monster' exhibition can speak to wider trends - in a way that also brings the cultural history and world heritage of the place into play. Emotion is a universal language and, especially for children, the language-free experience is a great space to create experiences in - across generations and cultures."

A children's book illustrating and explaining the 12 monsters and their emotions has been published by GAD Children's Books in conjunction with the exhibition. The book, which has already been published in its 4th edition and which guests can buy to take home, is a tool for children and adults to talk further with each other about the feelings and the monsters.