Balance Arc - sculpture
Two bronze figures balance atop tall granite columns at the entrance to Munke Mose. Balancebuen is a striking sculpture by the Funen sculptor Mette Agerbæk and was created to mark Odense's participation in World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
A meeting between Odense and Shanghai
Balancebuen is located by Klaregade Bridge, close to the Odense River and the entrance to Munke Mose. The sculpture was created in connection with World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, where Odense was represented with its own pavilion. The artwork symbolises the connection between Odense and Shanghai and tells a story of balance between different cultures, ideas and ways of life.
The sculpture's name refers to the balance that exists between opposing forces. Its inspiration comes in part from the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, where opposites are seen not as conflicts but as elements that complement one another.
Two figures in balance
The sculpture consists of two bronze figures standing on top of tall granite columns. The figures are frozen in balancing poses inspired by tai chi, the Chinese practice that emphasises calm, concentration and harmony.
Each figure holds a large circle in front of her. One circle features H.C. Andersen's papercut The Sun Face, linking the sculpture to Odense's most famous cultural heritage. The other symbolises the cycles of life and nature. Together, they reinforce the artwork's theme of balance and connection.
Mette Agerbæk
Balancebuen was created by the sculptor Mette Agerbæk (1960-2011). She studied at the Funen Academy of Fine Arts before continuing her education at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma in Italy. In 2004, she was named Funen Artist of the Year.
Agerbæk often worked with figurative sculpture, exploring themes of movement, balance and the human body. Balancebuen is considered one of her major works and remains one of the most visible examples of her art in Odense.
Experience the sculpture at the entrance to Munke Mose
Many people pass Balancebuen on their way between the city centre and the green areas along the Odense River. Next time you cross Klaregade Bridge or visit Munke Mose, take a moment to look more closely at the many symbols hidden within the sculpture. Here, stories of H.C. Andersen, Chinese philosophy and Odense's international outlook come together in a single work of art.
Last updated by:VisitOdensejmjen@odense.dk
