New exhibition: Ships on Parade

The M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark presents a new permanent exhibition: Ships on Parade. Enter a world of model ships: a parade of small ships with grand narratives. The exhibition presents an amazing collection of model ships and more than 400 years of maritime history.

Ships on Parade is a catwalk of model ships for everyone with an interest in sublime craftmanship and a declaration of love to model ships: from small ships in light bulbs to gigantic lifelike models created to impress at the shipping company office. Model ships with interesting stories are on display - like the first Danish ship that sailed passengers to Amerika, Frederik VIII, or the training ship KØBENHAVN (COPENHAGEN) that shipwrecked and disappeared without a trace. A lot of the models are “con amore” projects built to tribute a certain ship by sailors that needed to pass time at sea. There are also rows of fascinating bottle ships, models built with cloves and glass and beautiful detailed masterpieces with miniature steering wheels and drawstrings for sails.

Ships on Parade presents an entire world of ship models. Some large, some very, very small. Old and brand new. Model ships have always served as toys for both children and adults. The models have also served as an important work tool for ship carpenters and naval engineers. In Ships on Parade the models come to live with film, light, sound, animation, and text. A selection of stars is presented on a digital catwalk for model ships where the guests can dig deeper into the technical details and drawings of the ships. This adds to the treasure trove that Ships on Parade hopefully will bee for everyone with an interest in craftmanship, shipping and history.

”You will find treasures at every museum and here at the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark our treasure is no doubt our model ships. The models tell 400 years of Danish history and are small testimonies of maritime creativity and innovation: from the development of the sail to the steamboat and onto diesel. Ships are not just means of transport but also the home of sailors whilst at sea with lots of history and soul. We hope this is apparent in this new permanent exhibition which is also a grand tribute to the maritime craftmanship," says Anni Mogensen, CEO at the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark.


9-year-old Wilbur opens the exhibition
The first ship in the exhibition is made of cardboard - a model of the Danish hospitalship JUTLANDIA. It is built by 9-year-old Wilbur, who will also officially opened the exhibition. He builds model ships out of recycled materials with his granddad. He prefers to build model ships instead of building in virtual universes like the computer game “Minecraft”.

“It is much more exciting to build model ships. Computer games don’t exist in the real world but with ships – you can hold them and touch them. I just love it. It is fascinating that you can build something so detailed in a small size and it is fun to plan and invent how to build the ship. It really is simple to build ships. You just use some cardboard and a wire roll and then it becomes this beautiful thing.” Says 9-year-old Wilbur.

The exhibition is supported by:
A.P. Møller Fonden, Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond, Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S // D/S Orient’s Fond, Augustinus Fonden, Lauritzen Fonden, S.C. Van Fonden, Knud Højgaards Fond, Den Danske Maritime Fond og With-Fonden.

For further information or interviews please contact:
Heidi Vesterberg,hv@mfs.dk - +45 51 24 92 84