Alt forladt
The project Alt forladt – All Abandoned
All abandoned (in Danish Alt forladt) is a statement with a double meaning in Danish. It can mean forgiveness: that everything is okay, and it can also mean to leave or abandon: for example to abandon a place or leave this life.
Both meanings are human emotions that are at play in connection with the renovation project in Gellerupplanen, where buildings are demolished and rebuilt, where people are moving and being rehoused and where new places emerges.
The main artwork is the text Alt forladt in yellow neon. It hangs on the gable of the apartment block Inger Christensens Gade 31. The block is one of those to be demolished, and the text must remain in place during the demolition of the house.
From 14 May I did visit all the residents of Inger Christensens Gade 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45 to inviteded them to participate in a workshop based on the saying Alt forladt – all Abandoned. The residents here got the opportunity to tell me about important events they have experienced over the years in this place.
The most important statements I hand-embroided on white handkerchiefs, with the statement Alt forladt – all Abandoned – embroidered in yellow.
The talks and embroidery toke place partly in my work space, which has been moved into Inger Christensens Gade 33 and partly outside the blocks next to the park. The project was realized in collaboration with Brabrand Boligforening, and it toke place in this spring and summer 2021.
All the handkerchiefs together were exhibited at Gellerup Library.
