|
Dressed in black and adventurous
speech
Many of the assistants were dressed
in black funeral clothes from the age of
Andersen. The funeral procession with a brass band at the lead started at
the Town Hall sq. Two stout horses pulled the heavy sculpture on a
flower-decked carriage.
As the sculpture reached the
harbour, it was hoisted up to the height of
ten metres and a renowned Danish actress, Vigga
Bro recited an adventurous speech depicting the reasons why Andersen was hanging up there. Then the sculpture was lowered and
merged into the water, so that just the head was visible.
Specially brewed funeral beer
After the drowning the bystanders
drank specially brewed funeral beer. Then they left the harbour leaving Hans Christian Andersen alone
in water to the neck in the deserted harbour. There he will stay until a
resurrection happening is launched on his birthday 2nd April
2012.
The spectacle was led by Jens
Galschiot who had invited to the spectacular
art happening. On the occasion he was dressed as an undertaker. His
sculpture had been exhibited for six years at the Town Hall sq. It was
one of the citizens’ most favoured sculptures and it was eagerly
photographed.
Street-art to water-art
The artist who is a resident of
Odense says with a smile: “Generally I’m
known as a sort of street-art
artist as I’m placing my sculptures in the public space, but this event
could rather be dubbed as water-art.
Who knows, maybe a new art trend has been born….”
One million Euro
The sculpture was originally
contrived as a part of big fountain depicting all Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytales, but the
artist has had to suspend the project, because the municipality after six
years still has not managed to find a central site for the Storyteller’s
Fountain, although more
than one million Euro has been available for the creation of the
fountain.
Art still has a powerful potential
“I find the support really amazing. Undoubtedly we have to do with one of the biggest funeral
processions ever seen in Denmark. Thousands of people have crowded to
join my expression of profound disappointment with the municipality’s
handling of the process. This is a testimony that art still has a
powerful potential”, says Jens Galschiot and continues: “En envisage the
happening being an annually recurring event where we hoist Hans Christian
out of the water to be the focal point of a resurrection procession with
samba dancers and champagne. The sculpture will return to its site at the
Town Hall sq. for a week, and then it will be drowned again in harbour
basin.
The city councillors chose to stay away
Only one of the city councillors chose to join the event. “I think they have been a bit
disconcerted that I really could fancy plunging such an expensive
sculpture into the harbour, in addition a presentation of the city’s most
renowned celebrities. But I hope that the amazing attendance will be an
admonition to the politicians.” says Jens Galschiot
Is illegal throwing things into the harbour
“For sure, I am aware that it is
illegal throwing things into the harbour.
But I expect to be forgiven, as the harbour of Odense by this event has got
a new tourist attraction”, Jens Galschiot concludes.
The director of the harbour, Mr Carsten Aa declares:
“I find the happening humoristic, but anyway I insist that we find a reasonable solution to the
issue. Hence, already this week I’ll take contact to the City Council as
well as Jens Galschiot, so that we can find a better and more lasting
solution together.”
The director emphasizes that he will not attempt to get the
newcomer out of the precincts.
“Many others have artworks in the water, so why shouldn’t it be
viable here. We have the Sea Horse
in the Odense River. In addition, I really find it enjoyable, so I would
be happy if it could remain here”, the director concludes.
Global media
The event of drowning the storyteller has found comprehensive
coverage in the world’s media. An article in The Guardian has had overwhelming repercussion.
For more information:
Photos of the funeral procession: Series 1 – Series 2 - Hans
Christian Andersen in the
harbour basin
Press release of 11th October about the H.C.A happening: in English – in Danish
Fairy tales speech in English – in Danish
From Denmark´s National Radio 9 Oct. 2-3000 to the funeral
Professional TV documentation available, contact : aidoh@aidoh.dk
Contact to the City Council of Odense:
+45 6613 1372
Background
Interview with Jens Galschiot about the
happening
Press release of 27th September about the H.C.A
happening: in English – in Spanish – in Danish
Invitation to the funeral
Info and free photos: http://www.aidoh.dk/HCA2011
General info about
Jens Galschiot: http://www.aidoh.dk/
|
