The statue is explicitly conceived as a male counterpart to the world-famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.
The blinking mechanism is operated by a hidden motor that causes the eyelids to move once every hour.
The mirror-polished finish means the statue's appearance changes constantly based on the cloud cover and the color of the water.
The sculpture was cast in China before being shipped to Denmark for assembly on-site.
The name 'HAN' is the Danish word for 'HE', emphasizing its gender-specific contrast to the Little Mermaid ('Den lille havfrue').
HAN, commonly referred to as the 'He' statue, is a polished stainless steel sculpture by artist duo Elmgreen and Dragset located at the harbor in Helsingør, Denmark. Installed in 2012, the figure sits on a granite boulder at the edge of the pier, facing the Oresund Strait toward Sweden. The sculpture is a modern interpretation of Edvard Eriksen's Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, featuring a young boy instead of a mythological siren. Every hour, the statue blinks its eyes, a mechanical feature designed to introduce a sense of life to the metal surface. It was commissioned by the City of Helsingør to serve as a contemporary cultural landmark near the local cultural center. The figure is constructed from mirror-polished steel, causing it to reflect the shifting light and colors of the sea and sky. Its installation sparked significant local debate regarding its artistic intent and visual presence in the historic harbor setting.
From the edge of the pier looking toward the statue with the sea and the Kronborg Castle silhouette in the background.
Visit on a sunny day to see the reflection of the harbor activity clearly on the steel surface.
Plan your visit to coincide with the top of the hour to witness the blinking movement.
Bring a windproof jacket as the pier location is highly exposed to sea breezes.
Do not attempt to climb onto the granite boulder or the statue, as the surface is slippery and the area is monitored.
