Fredshaven (“Peace garden”)
Guest artist at Skovgård Museum, Viborg with neon ”Alt forladt” (”All abandoned”) and performances. 2023
Peace garden is a temporary reflections room in the garden behind Skovgaard Museet, where people of Viborg can meet at eating together, meditation, talks, workshops and sightseeings.
Skovgaard Museet took the initiative to “Fredshaven” (“Peace garden”), an open and apolitical room, where residents of Viborg can meet with peace. The wish for peace in Europe is still current, that’s is why ”Fredshaven” (“Peace garden”) again this year will be open from May 4. the day for The Liberation of Denmark 1945 until Constitution Day June 5 and guests will be able to experience the artwork by the Danish artist and poet Astrid Gjesing.
”Alt forladt” (”All abandoned”) is a statement which has appeared several times in Gjesing´s works. In the garden of Skovgård Museum it will appear as a bright, yellow neon sign placed at the building next to the museum. ”Alt forladt” (”All abandoned”) is a saying with a double meaning in Danish. It can mean forgiveness - meaning it is ok, and it can mean all abandoned. In the Peace garden context it will reflect the complexity of the war: the wish of reconciliation, not made possibly by the circumstances, which forces people on the run.
In the garden people are invited to create their own interpretations of the saying with needle and thread on old-fashioned, fabric handkerchiefs - create texts and symbols. With this invitation for co-creation Gjesing and the museum wish to open art to the public and give them the chance to express the feelings and thoughts wish the work of art and The Peace garden initiate.
