Artists stand united against war in exhibition

Danish flag betterA new exhibition at the Holstebro museum called KRIG, KUNST OG DANMARK (War, Art and Denmark) aims to shake the average Dane out of complacency and examine the bloody truths of war through the realms of art.

This exhibition throws up strong images for an audience to take away. One of the more provocative ensembles include a 15-portrait piece of various Danish political leaders with mangled, bloodied, distorted faces. Foreign Minister Villy Søvndal sports a shredded face haemorrhaging blood in one piece while former PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen wears a grotesque injury in the eye in another.

The exhibition is sometime observant, sometimes critical of Denmark’s war-faring history and marks a decade since the coalition’s invasion of Iraq.

In an interview with the Jyllands-Posten newspaper, artist Simone Aaberg Kærn –the creator of the grisly pieces said her pieces were not directly an attack on the politicians. Instead, she said they are meant to remind the Danish people that Denmark is indeed involved in warfare.

“The governments have been massively backed by the people,” she told the paper. “Danish citizens are just as responsible for the wars, though many don’t really think about it.”

Other artists exhibiting at the centre are – Niels Bonde, Martin Nore, Morten Schelde, Peter Carlsen, Claus Carstensen and Henrik Saxgren. The works are on display between from March 23 to June 30.

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