No photos were allowed at the Danish Arts and Culture Ball, which took place Friday at Christiansborg Palace. Luckily artist Esben Weile Kjær was up to give us all the inside details of the evening, from the food to the flowers to the late night dancing
Though Esben Weile Kjær received the coveted invite for the Arts and Culture Ball, a black tie affair hosted by King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark at Christiansborg Palace, some weeks ago, his look was a game time decision. “I changed my look last minute because my boyfriend found this red vintage velour jacket,” says the Danish artist. “I’m almost two metres tall, so nothing really fits me normally but this jacket was perfect.” Held once a decade, the ball is, as its name suggests, a celebration of the arts in Denmark, with invitees spanning music, visual arts, fashion and film.
Weile Kjær completed the look with trousers from Our Legacy and a tuxedo shirt from Sunflower (“My favourite Scandi brands”). For a final touch, designer Anne Sofie Madsen, a longtime friend of the artist, hand-embroidered Weile Kjær and boyfriend Nicolai Olesen’s shirts with flowers in pearls and Swarovski crystals. Just before the gala, the artist’s signature hair – a very Tom Petty-esque cut – was touched up by his go-to guy, Mike Nielsen at his Copenhagen salon, Mugshot.
Esben brought passports for the security check, his camera, his favourite Tom Ford sunglasses, his boyfriend's perfume and deodorant, gum, keys and painkillers. . Photo: Esben Weile Kjær
Esben's boyfriend picked found this red vintage velour jacket just in time for the gala. Photo: Esben Weile Kjær
Getting a haircut from Mike Nielsen at his Copenhagen salon, Mugshot. Photo: Esben Weile Kjær
The evening began in Weile Kjær’s studio, where he, his boyfriend and artist Maja Malou Lyse got ready. “Maja and I studied together at the art academy and I’m so grateful that we experience stuff like this together,” says Weile Kjær. After putting on their finery the crew hopped in a friend’s car to make their way to the palace. “Maja couldn’t sit in her dress so she had to lie down in the car,” says Weile Kjær.
The entrance was a bit of a process, starting with security and then a stop at the arrival room, which was filled with Danish press, including the local channels that live-streamed the guests’ arrival. “Then we got to another room got a glass of champagne and then waited to the introduction to the King and Queen,” says Weile Kjær. "That part was also filmed and then we arrived to the dinner where it was not really allowed to take photos, so that part was very chill.” He did, however, sneak an image of his place setting exclusively for Vogue Scandinavia.
Artist Maja Malou Lyse lying down enroute to the gala. Photo: Esben Weile Kjær
The arrival. Photo: Esben Weile Kjær
Esben on TV. Photo: Esben Weile Kjær