Syvogtyve

Symposia #8 Reflection 23.4.2010

1. The city of Copenhagen recently installed several new statues on Gammeltorv. What is all about? How do people react and interact with them? If the statues were real human beings, would they react differently to it? Is Gammeltorv a good place for such an installation? Is there any other public space in Copenhagen that would be more suitable than Gammeltorv, and for what reason? Record your observation.

The bronze sculptures by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt are being displayed in heavily trafficked Gammeltorv in order to show the pedestrian that the homeless actually do live on the streets. Each individual sculpture tells its own story, and so the sculptures represent real homeless people. People who have been or are currently homeless act as guides for the exhibition, and Galschià passers-by will stop and join in the debate. The sculptures were created for a campaign Ending Homelessness.

The statues almost blend in during a busy afternoon at Gammeltorv. I at first did not notice them but when I did began to read all the titles. Rather then giving the statues names they share a brief story of a homeless individual...most have explanations of why they are homeless or how they are unable to fix their situation. This is an important part of the work...it gives the homeless a voice that is otherwise unheard and as the states are frozen to their form the homeless are unable to fix their own situation.

I sat for about an hour in Gammeltorv enjoying the sunshine, other onlookers, pedestrians passing down Stoget and more specifically I watched people interacting with the statues. I saw children sit on them while parents read the stories. I saw a man look comforted by the homeless man sitting on a green Copehagen bench. I saw a homeless person pass by unhindered by the art. Had the statues been real they would have been located elsewhere, like on the walking streets where if performing they are allowed to stay in the same spot for about an hour. I'm not so sure I've seen a homeless person or beggar in Gammeltorv. I think this is an internet place for the statues to be placed due to it's close proximity of the court house. An older Danish women was to of said that when she were young the homeless would spend time in front of the court house to try and make a political statement...a call for help. Perhaps it is a plea to the government, the welfare state, to help more those who are homeless. I wonder had they not wanted to install the statues a week earlier during the Queen's birthday?

I think that the statues were placed in a heavily trafficked area but I haven't seen people stay too long to read...it is more of a passing by street. Or perhaps people read one statue and assume the story is all the same...The statues are perhaps judged just at the homeless...all one in the same. I think the statues should be placed in miscellaneous areas around Copenhagen. I think they would make a louder statement and also draw more attention if placed alone on a street corner...or maybe two per all large squares in Copenhagen. Then people might be a bit more intrigued. Upon reading the plaques myself I immediately felt almost guilty for doing so. The life-like sculptures and public display almost made me feel invasive and embarrassed to stare. I think this was intentional by artist and campaign alike. The sad truth is that the homeless really do live in the public, they are looked down upon daily by those passing by without so much as a thought as to why they are homeless.

Had the sculptures been placed in a location in close proximity to where the homeless spend time they would not have spoken to the right crowd. While eating my bagel on Gammeltorv I thought about how it would be to have no food. Or to sit in a cold square past sundown. This thought may not have otherwise crossed my mind.