The Danish Girl and the Thunder Gods

The National Museum in Denmark and the internationally acclaimed Chinese comic artist Nie Jun collaborated on an innovative way of presenting museum artefacts. In spring 2024, Nie Jun visited Denmark, exploring the Museum’s Daoist collection alongside Danish researchers to reinterpret and communicate some of its Chinese treasures. During his stay, he also went to Suhr’s Folk High School to meet Danish young people and gain insight into their lives, and he wandered around Copenhagen — visiting both the more tourist-focussed attractions such as the Round Tower and Tivoli, and the Nordvest district.

This experience inspired the creation of the graphic novel “Copenhagen Scroll,” named after a unique 1596 painted scroll depicting the Chinese thunder gods on an inspection tour. The book tells the story of a Danish-Chinese girl who finds answers and solace through her encounter with the thunder gods after her parents’ divorce.

The collaboration culminated in two exhibitions — one at the National Museum in Copenhagen and another at our cultural centre in Beijing over the winter of 2024/25.

Partners:

Nationalmuseet (The National Museum of Denmark)