Major art project unveiled: Nine giant works for new district
The sun was shining, the atmosphere was buzzing, and there was every reason to stop by Stigsborg on Friday as nine new works of art were unveiled in Aalborg Municipality’s rapidly growing new urban district.
With Mayor Lasse Frimand Jensen among the attendees, the event marked a major milestone for an art project that has now become a visible part of everyday life in Stigsborg.
Nine large artworks, each measuring 2.70 x 2.40 meters, have been mounted on the building of Advanced Industrial Packaging — a building deeply rooted in the area’s industrial history.
The project was made possible thanks to a donation of 150,000 DKK from Sydbank Fonden.
“We support an area undergoing rapid development. An entirely new district is being built, and more plots are being prepared so that even more people can live in Stigsborg,” says Rasmus Dencker, Business Director at AL Sydbank, to MigogAalborg.
Creating inviting urban spaces
At the same time, he is pleased that the project is not only about decoration, but also about creating life and experiences in an area undergoing major transformation.
“It is fantastic that dedicated associations from Nørresundby have taken the initiative to beautify the area, so that the old industrial buildings invite people into an urban space where they want to stop by, experience culture, and enjoy Søren Elgaard’s art,” says Rasmus Dencker.
Stigsborg is an area with a history full of contrasts — from medieval stories about Stig Hvide and the castle that gave the district its name, to chalk workers, the cement industry, acid factories, football fields, and massive industrial buildings.
Today, homes, schools, nursing homes, and new urban spaces are rapidly emerging. In the middle of this transformation, the artworks are intended to maintain the connection to the area’s past.
That connection between history and future is exactly what the Stigsborg project is about.
Aalborg’s mayor praises the project
That point was also emphasized by Aalborg’s mayor, Lasse Frimand Jensen.
“What makes this project special is not only the art itself, but the story behind it.
The new artworks connect past and present and tell stories about the people, places, and events that have shaped Nørresundby through generations,” he explains.
He continues:
“Stigsborg is developing rapidly. New homes, new communities, and new meeting places are appearing.
But a district only truly comes alive when it also gains soul, stories, and art that create experiences and give us something shared to reflect ourselves in,” says the mayor.
Creating identity and community
At Solsidens Udviklings Alliance, there is great appreciation for the efforts that made the project possible.
“The support from Sydbank Fonden has been absolutely crucial in turning a strong artistic vision into a concrete and visible urban space in Stigsborg.
For us, the project is not only about art, but about creating identity, community, and historical roots in a new district undergoing major development,” says Bjarne Agger Sidelmann, strategic leader and urban coordinator at Solsidens Udviklings Alliance.
He points out that the installation demonstrates how culture can actively contribute to urban development.
“What makes this project unique is how art, history, and urban development can go hand in hand — locally rooted while facing the wider world.
Sydbank Fonden’s support sends an important signal that investments in culture and storytelling are also investments in people, social cohesion, and future generations’ sense of belonging to the city,” says Bjarne Agger Sidelmann.
Søren Elgaard created nine snapshots of history
The artist behind the works is Søren Elgaard, whom many residents of Aalborg already know from the large painting on Hedegaard’s building in Nørresundby.
For Søren Elgaard, Stigsborg is more than just a subject — it is a place he has a personal and artistic connection to.
His grandmother and father worked at the Nordisk Standard/Bates factory, which produced the iconic brown garbage bags many associate with Danish industrial history.
Today, the company is part of Advanced Industrial Packaging, which produces sustainable paper sacks distributed worldwide.
AIP originally opened under the name Bates in 1929 and became especially known for its brown garbage bags. Today, the company is the second-largest producer of paper sacks in Europe, operating seven production sites and producing 828 million sacks annually.
It is this very building that now serves as the backdrop for the nine giant paintings.
Søren Elgaard describes the works as a summary of motifs and themes that have fascinated him for years. Among other things, he has worked with the area’s industry, aviation history, chalk pits, workers’ lives, acid factories, and the transformation from a closed industrial zone into a new urban district.
“My nine paintings at Stigsborg are therefore a summary of motifs and themes.
I have created nine snapshots from history that have all fascinated me.
They are visual and open to interpretation — perhaps with qualities resembling icons.
The paintings are visible around the clock and will hopefully become a striking part of Stigsborg,” says Søren Elgaard about the project.
Students from TECHCOLLEGE helped mount the artworks
The project also has strong local roots in its execution.
Students from TECHCOLLEGE helped install the large paintings, meaning several generations have become part of the story behind Stigsborg’s new visual identity.
The result is an installation that does not hide history away, but instead allows it to stand proudly in the middle of the new Stigsborg.
Friday’s unveiling therefore became more than just the presentation of nine artworks. It also became a celebration of an area entering a new era — without forgetting the lives, work, and stories that shaped the place.
With the support of Sydbank Fonden, Søren Elgaard’s art, and strong local involvement, Stigsborg has gained a striking new artistic landmark that residents, visitors, and passersby can experience around the clock.