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Theme: Arrivals
“The city kept coming closer as a picture, language, sound smell, movement, atmosphere and music - topography, labyrinth, condition, home ground, way of life…” Søren Ulrik Thomsen, 1972. (danish writer).
The first glance of Copenhagen
The first encounter with the city is an important moment. Regardless of whether it takes place from a horse drawn carriage with a view from Valby Hill, from a ship sailing towards the harbor jetties or from the escalator leading right into the chaos of voices and impressions at the central station. The excitement of the encounter with the possibilities and freedom of the big city is matched with the concern of its dangers and vastness, as well as your own situation. Where to live? What to be?
In the exhibition theme arrivals you can cross physical boundaries, town gates and security checkpoints that are no longer as comprehensive as before. However, the decoding of the city’s language and codes has, if possible, become even more complex. How long can you actually live in Copenhagen without becoming a Copenhagener?
Highlights from “Arrivals”
Stories from the exhibition theme:
Søren Ulrik Thomsen’s school photo from Sølvgade school, 1972
Søren arrived in Copenhagen from Stevns in 1972, aged 16. He moved into a backyard on Store Kongensgade. He is a writer and has written several books about Copenhagen. He describes the encounter with the big city in the essay The Road between two Schools. He describes the division between Copenhagen and the friends back on Stevns, the trials of school and youth, and how he finally began to feel at home in the capital.
In the exhibition you can learn more about Thomsen’s meeting with Copenhagen.
Helen Clara Hemsley and her warm socks
Helen came to Copenhagen in 1998. Originally, she comes from Durban in South Africa, but left in 1989. Since then, she has lived in the US, England and Scotland before ending in Copenhagen. A conceptual artist, she has lived in Vesterbro ever since she arrived. She treasures the district’s multicultural composition.
“I like the fact that I don’t feel particularly Danish: partly because Danish is difficult. But I feel like a Copenhagener. I AM a Copenhagener.”
In the exhibition you can hear more personal stories of arrivals in Copenhagen.
The bridges and the ravelin in front of Nørreport
The drawing shows the way in which the city’s defenses were constructed by means of ramparts, a moat and protruding posts. The irregular approach to the gate gave the soldiers time to observe approaching people.
In the exhibition you can see more pictures of Copenhagens old city gates and ramparts.
Other exhibition themes
Read more about the Museum of Copenhagen’s previous special exhibitions.