Places in Copenhagen
/A short break in the 3daysofdesign posts: sculptures in a new series of life-sized works by the Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir - under a general title Places - have just been set up around Copenhagen.
This is a joint venture between the city, North Atlantic House, the Icelandic Embassy in Copenhagen and Galleri Christoffer Egelund in Bredgade in Copenhagen. Copenhagen Airport has also collaborated and in fact the first of the series that many visitors to the city will see is opposite the taxi bay at the airport.
Steinunn’s work is represented in Denmark by Galleri Christoffer Egelund - there is an exhibition of smaller works currently in the gallery and it’s possible to pick up a small map showing the locations of all the works.
From my apartment I look down on Esplanaden and straight at the figure with arms spread slightly and head craning up and forward as if taking in the warmth of the sun. Shortly after the sculpture was installed, I thought it was funny to see a tourist striking the same pose to have his photo taken by a friend. That was the first time and I gave a wry smile ... now, it’s getting a little boring that every time I look down there are people standing like this. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age. Maybe it should be reassuring that a simple, child-like sense of humour is curiously universal but I just wish some of them would walk further up Grønningen and try a short period of quiet meditation in imitation of the pieces there. Perhaps I should just be grateful that I can’t see the figure on the bench … surely that must be destined to be the most photographed sculpture in group poses in the city after the Little Mermaid.
