origo
Junior Member
Posts • 1,973
Likes • 512
April 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by origo on Mar 20, 2009 16:23:46 GMT 1, A long time ago I asked Guy for a very personal favour, I know he is a busy man but I kinda thought that it was in his spirit, and that he would find the compassion and the energy for the cause.
Until last year we had something called the "Youth House" (Ungdomshuset in danish) here in Copenhagen/Denmark where I live. It was first and foresmost a house full of creative people, people who loved alternative art and music. The house was established as a Youth House back in 1982, we had something called the BZ culture which was a movement who was pretty hardcore. They invaded empty houses and used them as places where they could grow their culture and their beliefs.
The government grew really tired of the problem and offered the movement a house, this was how the "Youth House" was born. The government made it pretty clear that this house was theirs to use, if they promised to stick to the hosue and leave the rest of Copenhagen alone.
During the past 10 years the house was in constant threat of being shut down, not because it wasn´t being used but because we (unfortunately) have grown to become a republic country, the last 25 years here have been runned by republic politicians resulting in alternative places being shut down.
Now, the "Youth House" have always been something special in the mind of the Copenhagen citizens, whether you liked the place or not it was something who belonged in Copenhagen more specifically Nørrebro which is a part of Copenhagen known for it´s multicultural and ethnical style.
The whole thing ended with the government sold the house to a homophobic, antisemtic, alternative hating christian sect. The eviciton itself caused a lot of riots here which some of you might have noticed at that time, and Nørrebro was almost a war zone in a week or so because of the riots here. The eviciton was pretty dramatic with choppers surrounding the house, and special forces going down the roof of the house with teargas and guns. The people that was in the house at that time, was actually sleeping.
On 16 March, 2007, Danish police admitted to having mistakenly used a potentially lethal form of teargas canisters. The gas, known as Ferret 40, was used against crowds during the riots following the demolition, although the launching mechanism is designed to penetrate doors and walls
It´s needless to say where my sympathy was, I believe in a coloured society, I think that a society is heading in a wrong direction when it´s heading in a streamlined, grey direction. I was really moved that week, not only because of the house but because of the fact that the city I love and live in had lost a very big part of it´s identity, it´s spirit and soul.
The house had a lot of social activities, free kitchen for everyone, they produced music, concerts, etc. People like Nick Cave, Björk, Green day have played there. When you think about these people started with an empty house, they certainly managed to create something very unique and special build on ideals and love. Today you can see the tag"69" all over Copenhagen, the adress of the house was Jagtvej 69 and it will always have a special place in the history of Copenhagen.
Now the place called "Christiania" is under the same threat and it´s very easy to see the pattern here.
Anyway, Guy painted this piece for me. It´s based on a picture of a very good friend who got arrested in these days. I respect and admire her courage for believing in her ideals and beliefs.
A very big thanks to Guy for this wonderful and lovely piece, it will always remind me of the things I believe in, the things that I stand for and the strenght of youth.
The actual piece and the photo that inspired it. The piece is called "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall)"
A link to the story behind the "Youth House".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungdomshuset
And a video about the house.
A long time ago I asked Guy for a very personal favour, I know he is a busy man but I kinda thought that it was in his spirit, and that he would find the compassion and the energy for the cause. Until last year we had something called the "Youth House" (Ungdomshuset in danish) here in Copenhagen/Denmark where I live. It was first and foresmost a house full of creative people, people who loved alternative art and music. The house was established as a Youth House back in 1982, we had something called the BZ culture which was a movement who was pretty hardcore. They invaded empty houses and used them as places where they could grow their culture and their beliefs. The government grew really tired of the problem and offered the movement a house, this was how the "Youth House" was born. The government made it pretty clear that this house was theirs to use, if they promised to stick to the hosue and leave the rest of Copenhagen alone. During the past 10 years the house was in constant threat of being shut down, not because it wasn´t being used but because we (unfortunately) have grown to become a republic country, the last 25 years here have been runned by republic politicians resulting in alternative places being shut down. Now, the "Youth House" have always been something special in the mind of the Copenhagen citizens, whether you liked the place or not it was something who belonged in Copenhagen more specifically Nørrebro which is a part of Copenhagen known for it´s multicultural and ethnical style. The whole thing ended with the government sold the house to a homophobic, antisemtic, alternative hating christian sect. The eviciton itself caused a lot of riots here which some of you might have noticed at that time, and Nørrebro was almost a war zone in a week or so because of the riots here. The eviciton was pretty dramatic with choppers surrounding the house, and special forces going down the roof of the house with teargas and guns. The people that was in the house at that time, was actually sleeping. On 16 March, 2007, Danish police admitted to having mistakenly used a potentially lethal form of teargas canisters. The gas, known as Ferret 40, was used against crowds during the riots following the demolition, although the launching mechanism is designed to penetrate doors and walls It´s needless to say where my sympathy was, I believe in a coloured society, I think that a society is heading in a wrong direction when it´s heading in a streamlined, grey direction. I was really moved that week, not only because of the house but because of the fact that the city I love and live in had lost a very big part of it´s identity, it´s spirit and soul. The house had a lot of social activities, free kitchen for everyone, they produced music, concerts, etc. People like Nick Cave, Björk, Green day have played there. When you think about these people started with an empty house, they certainly managed to create something very unique and special build on ideals and love. Today you can see the tag"69" all over Copenhagen, the adress of the house was Jagtvej 69 and it will always have a special place in the history of Copenhagen. Now the place called "Christiania" is under the same threat and it´s very easy to see the pattern here. Anyway, Guy painted this piece for me. It´s based on a picture of a very good friend who got arrested in these days. I respect and admire her courage for believing in her ideals and beliefs. A very big thanks to Guy for this wonderful and lovely piece, it will always remind me of the things I believe in, the things that I stand for and the strenght of youth. The actual piece and the photo that inspired it. The piece is called "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall)" A link to the story behind the "Youth House". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UngdomshusetAnd a video about the house.
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Martin DK
Junior Member
Posts • 3,768
Likes • 987
August 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by Martin DK on Mar 20, 2009 16:31:42 GMT 1, Great piece Origo!
Great piece Origo!
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origo
Junior Member
Posts • 1,973
Likes • 512
April 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by origo on Mar 20, 2009 18:47:43 GMT 1, Thanks Martin, I think it´s a lovely piece as well but more importantly it has a special meaning to me.
Thanks Martin, I think it´s a lovely piece as well but more importantly it has a special meaning to me.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts • 1,617
Likes • 7
September 2007
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by gozgoz on Mar 20, 2009 18:54:39 GMT 1, isnt it the governments fault?
i was just wondering what was the point of name calling (homophobic, antisemtic, alternative hating) the christian sect was for?
isnt it the governments fault?
i was just wondering what was the point of name calling (homophobic, antisemtic, alternative hating) the christian sect was for?
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origo
Junior Member
Posts • 1,973
Likes • 512
April 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by origo on Mar 20, 2009 19:00:41 GMT 1, It sure is the governments fault, but the first comment the sect made after they bought the house and destroyed it was "Now we take the homosexuals".
It is a pretty extreme sect and they made it pretty clear that they see it as their mission, to vipe off the abovementioned groups from the surface of the earth.
It sure is the governments fault, but the first comment the sect made after they bought the house and destroyed it was "Now we take the homosexuals".
It is a pretty extreme sect and they made it pretty clear that they see it as their mission, to vipe off the abovementioned groups from the surface of the earth.
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goffy
Junior Member
Posts • 1,401
Likes • 0
November 2006
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by goffy on Mar 21, 2009 1:14:20 GMT 1, I love Guy's painting. And the beauty in the darkness which are the eyes.
I assumed the 'name calling' wasn't used lightly by you, and you were telling it as it was. It seems most governments don't like free thinking, artistic expression.
I love Guy's painting. And the beauty in the darkness which are the eyes.
I assumed the 'name calling' wasn't used lightly by you, and you were telling it as it was. It seems most governments don't like free thinking, artistic expression.
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Heavyconsumer
Junior Member
Posts • 4,974
Likes • 5
February 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by Heavyconsumer on Mar 21, 2009 4:22:16 GMT 1, It's always great to have that bit of understanding of how a piece came to be and what inspired it. With the story attached to the piece it takes on a whole additional dimension and becomes much easier to identify with. I'm sure there are some here who may disagree and feel it's better for the viewer to extrapolate their own meaning, but I love having the extra insight - although I may agree that more abstract painting styles should be left to the imagination of the viewer, as half the time I don't understand the attributed meanings anyway!
It's always great to have that bit of understanding of how a piece came to be and what inspired it. With the story attached to the piece it takes on a whole additional dimension and becomes much easier to identify with. I'm sure there are some here who may disagree and feel it's better for the viewer to extrapolate their own meaning, but I love having the extra insight - although I may agree that more abstract painting styles should be left to the imagination of the viewer, as half the time I don't understand the attributed meanings anyway!
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fool4faile
New Member
Posts • 255
Likes • 0
October 2007
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by fool4faile on Mar 21, 2009 9:28:00 GMT 1, origo, as good as unbeatable! congrats and thanks!
origo, as good as unbeatable! congrats and thanks!
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origo
Junior Member
Posts • 1,973
Likes • 512
April 2008
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Denning "Ungdomshuset (the writing's on the wall) , by origo on Mar 21, 2009 13:23:28 GMT 1, Thanks for the comments guys, I usually like the idea of free interpretation but in this case I thought that the whole story behind the piece was important.
Thanks for the comments guys, I usually like the idea of free interpretation but in this case I thought that the whole story behind the piece was important.
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