The very first exhibition

Our very first exhibition, along with the opening day, will always stand out as something truly special in our memory.

The idea of the Ice Exhibition had been growing in our minds for a long time, and during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, it was finally given the space to fully develop. After many months of intense work, we were ready to open the doors on July 2, 2020. The day before, we had already welcomed our first invited guests for the opening preview of the very first exhibition.

The exhibition was created in collaboration with 11 Danish artists, each with their own approach to ice and ice art. It was an exciting process, and special credit goes to Søren Cip Nielsen, ice artist and owner of Ice-Team, for organizing it.

Created During the First Lockdown

In March 2020, we experienced something entirely new. The coronavirus had spread so seriously in Denmark that on March 11, the Prime Minister announced a widespread shutdown of the country. As a result, the doors of Jyllandsakvariet were closed for more than two months, all events were canceled, and meetings postponed. Thyborøn suddenly became very quiet—but it also created an opportunity to bring an old dream to life.

The Ideal Setting

The owner of Jyllandsakvariet, Michael Madsen, had an old cold storage facility that had become vacant when the fish exporter who had rented it for many years moved production the year before. Michael’s dream of filling the facility with ice art suddenly became possible. And with the aquarium and outdoor activities closed, he finally had the time needed to bring the project to life.

Maritime Magic

The first exhibition had a central theme: Maritime Magic. It was a perfect fit for Thyborøn, its maritime environment, and the overall activities of Jyllandsakvariet.