Petrify: To convert organic matter to stone
Site: Blågårdsplads, Copenhagen, DK
Year: 2019
Status: Temporary public artwork
At the centre of Blågårds Plads is a sunken, brick square. Surrounding this square are 22 statues by the Danish sculptor Kai Nielsen (1912-16). 17 of the 22 portray the area’s former residents, each equipped with the tools of their vocation. The final five depict groups of children playing and climbing together on boulders.
The temporary plinth intervention aligns with Nielson’s work insofar as it celebrates the people of the area and its current diversity. Unlike Nielsen’s sculpture, however, the work does not depict any one particular person or vocation. Instead, it invites the public to celebrate and represent themselves.
Painted plywood, 45x25x25 mm
