Who was Nicoline Koch? This bronze statue immortalizes a remarkable woman. The Nicoline Koch Statue stands here as a tribute to her legacy.
This 2.20 meter high bronze sculpture was created by Liné Ringtved Thordarson in 2022. It is placed on Nicoline Kochs Plads at Aarhus Ø. The statue and the square are named after Nicoline Koch. She was a strong school leader.
Nicoline Koch was the headmistress of N. Kochs School. The school was also named after her. She studied at N. Zahles private teacher training course. Nicoline taught at Danish manor houses. She went to Paris to study French. In 1916, she took over Frk. Lindhards Higher Girls’ School in Aarhus.
In 1917, her lease was cancelled. Nicoline Koch gained political support to build a new school. The address was Åboulevarden 67. The school opened in 1918. It was renamed N. Kochs School. She modernized it. Girls could now take the real examination. Nicoline Koch remained headmistress until her sudden death in 1932.
The artist Liné Ringtved Thordarson aimed to capture Nicoline Koch’s strong personality. The clothing reflects the time period. Liné wants viewers to sense the person behind the sculpture. Each sculpture has its own story. The artist expresses emotions through form. It was important for Liné that Nicoline Koch exudes strength and calmness.
Nicoline Koch was cast in Italy. Adolfo Agolini owns the Mariani foundry. It is one of the best foundries in the world. The foundry is in Pietrasanta. This town is known for sculpture production. The foundry has been family-run for generations. Many Danish sculptors have visited, including Prince Henrik.
Creating the Nicoline Koch Statue was a long process. Liné Ringtved Thordarson made two trips to the Italian foundry. The bronze sculpture weighs 200 kg. Martin Busk from Bricks A/S commissioned it. He saw it as a dedication to Aarhus. He admired Liné’s work and chose a local artist.
Nicoline Koch came from a priestly family. She travelled to Paris during World War I to study French. In 1920, the first students took the middle school exam. In 1921, they took the real exam. This allowed young girls to get jobs.
Nicoline Koch had vision and courage as a school leader. She emphasized duty and order. She was also a lively storyteller. She taught religion and history in lower grades. She taught French in higher grades. Nicoline Koch was a slender and stately woman. Her sudden death in 1932 shocked the school. She had transformed the school. It is still a progressive private school in Aarhus.
Nicolinehus is the heart of Aarhus Ø. It connects the area to the city center. Nicolinehus has the city’s best location. It is near the marina and harbor bath. The buildings include housing and businesses. The ground floor has shops and cafes. The courtyards are green spaces.
Bricks A/S developed Nicolinehus. AART Architects designed it. Schønherr designed the green areas. The project has two blocks up to 17 floors high. Nicoline Kochs Plads is between the blocks. It connects the harbor bath and marina. The Nicoline Koch Statue stands here. Liné Ringtved Thordarson lives in Nicolinehus. She has a studio in Aarhus C.
The Nicoline Koch Statue embodies strength. It reminds us of a pioneering woman. She shaped education in Aarhus. Take a moment to appreciate her enduring influence.