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[12. juni 2002]
Artikel
Initiating a Secret Society
I got an invitation, requesting my presence in
an old ruin at night, on Jamers Plads in the centre of Copenhagen.
I just had to experience the first security-guarded site-alienating
intervention by the title ”Scene of a Crime”. Especially
since the private invitation mentioned adventure and transgressive
activity. 10.30 sharp! A contemplation event by the German Artist
Janne Schäfer. Text by Kristina Ilsøe.
Images by Kristina Ilsøe and Sophie Pucill.
pressemeddelelse
Ghosts in the ruin
Arriving at the ”traffic island” a harsh looking security
guard with a dog opened the gate. Two women in white welcomed me
and I joined the circle in the center of the torch-lit ruin. Everyone
else seemed puzzled and a bit uneasy as well, but as the ‘ghosts’
seemed friendly despite their silence, sculls and serious faces,
we settled down.
A flow of things were handed out by the people in white, things
such as cookies, papers, mushrooms, water, pills, patterns, overheads,
pictures, flowers and some unidentifiable objects.
A search for an answer
When I whispered ”what is happening?”, the only answer
I could get was ”I don’t know”. We really didn’t
know…
The piles of hand-outs in front of us grew continuously and things
seemed to settle down. Slowly people around me started to create
patterns with the objects, read the lines carefully, observe the
pieces through the light and play.
I started an investigation, a search for an answer in my own pile,
carefully keeping an eye on the inventions and actions of the people
next to me. To my left, a biscuit-focused man kept on building sculptures
with the round-shaped biscuit placed in the center. He wanted to
steal my biscuit, and at one stage I though he had. He admitted
that he really wanted to. I really wanted to eat it, but didn’t
really dare.
At my right side sat a man much fascinated by what he described
as a manifestation of a landform, and especially a diagram with
mathematical shapes describing something really complex.
To me the Elderflower was very appealing, with its organic and circular
structure. And I liked the discovery that it had been used to make
the manifestation of the elderflower map.
Contemplation
Slowly I realized. The secret society had transformed one of the
busiest spots in Copenhagen into a contemplation room. In silence
the surroundings transformed us all into searching, meditative beings.
What a graceful act. What beautiful moments. And since we all received
membership cards I feel confident that we will soon meet again.
And if not, I’m just happy that I witnessed and participated
in this extremely successful participatory event.
Mere:
www.contemplation.dk
Contemplation Room Project
Contemplation Events
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