Exclusive presentation of Danish Fundamentalism sculpture

1. Invitation to presentation of the exhibition

2. Enrollment information.

3. About The Children of Abraham/Fundamentalism.

4. About artist Jens Galschiøt (by Auction House Bruun Rasmussen).

5. Review of former exhibition (by Museum Director Mag. Art. Lise Jeppesen).

6. Review of the art exhibition The Children of Abraham/Fundamentalism (By Director Iben From)

7. Links and contacts.

Dear Curator

I am pleased to invite a representative from your exhibition site to an exclusive presentation of the art and dialogue project The Children of Abraham/Fundamentalism at Art Centre Silkeborg Bad in Denmark.

We are planning a number of special presentations of the art piece by the artist Jens Galschiøt and Museum Director Iben From. There will also be time to talk about the possibility of exhibiting the sculpture at your exhibition site.The exhibition consists of the Fundamentalism-sculpture, 10 minor Pillars of Scriptures and a number of internet based interactive communication platforms.

For the many exhibition sites that do not have the capacity, space or economy to exhibit the Fundamentalism-sculpture, the smaller Pillar of Scripture sculptures will be an option. They occupy few square meters and can e.g. be exhibited in the foyer of a museum. Amongst other things we are working on getting three of these sculptures exhibited in Israel/Palestine.

In connection to the visit, we will take care of catering, accommodation and transportation from the nearest airport or train station if required.

Hereunder you find further information about the exhibition. I hope you find the sculpture installation interesting and will accept our invitation.

If you cannot come to Denmark, but are interested in the exhibition, please contact me. I will then send you practical information, exhibition plan and answer any questions you might have.

For Enrollment, please write: aidoh@aidoh.dk

Best regards

Lasse Markus, Cand Soc. Ms Management of Creative Business Processes.

Manager of International Exhibitions
Gallery Galschiøt
E-mail: aidoh@aidoh.dk
Phone: +45 6618 4058 / +45 6170 3083

Art Centre Silkeborg Bad

Located in one of the most picturesque, green areas in Denmark which fits the Art Centres majestic appearance. Besides of Art Centre Silkeborg Bad several of Denmark's most important art museums are found nearby.

Nearby Billund Airport provides direct connections to London, Paris etc. - and Copenhagen. We can provide pickup and transportation to the airport.

Introduction to the sculpture and project

By Jens Galschiøt – Artist behind the project.

On Jan. 17^th, the first total exhibition of the artwork opened, at Art Centre Silkeborg Bad. Since then the place has seen a doubling in the number of visitors and great media attention on all Danish platforms.The Stonehenge like sculpture ’Fundamentalism’ is the centre of the staging of a dialogue about the dogmas of the monotheistic religions.

The monumental sculpture Fundamentalism stands, with a width of 9 diameters, as a central part of the exhibition. It consists of the letters F.U.N.D.A.M.E.N.T.A.L.I.S.M., each of whom is built by copper models of the Torah, the Bible and the Quran respectively.Under each letter, 28 screens show the 600“darkest” and ”brightest” quotes from the three religions’ holy books. Besides the big sculpture a number of 'Pillar of Scriptures'; copper sculptures which too project the quotes on 6 screens, can be used for satellite exhibitions.

The core of the artwork is to initiate a dialogue within the society and between the visitors of the exhibition sites, to create a new angle to the religion- and fundamentalism debate. It is therefore crucial for the work’s conversational force that it works within the local language of the exhibition site. So far, both the sculpture and the communication platforms exist on 8 languages: Danish, English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Italian and Arabic.

Besides the sculpture, the project presents a range of interactive online communication-tools, like

Religious Debate: The art project entitled Abrahams Børn (The Children of Abraham) is significant because it is based on real aspirations of change and qualified debate on a subject matter of considerable relevance to society. As Denmark too become an increasingly multi-cultural society, it is important to take into consideration the backgrounds of various cultures and even religious dimensions. Equipped with a better understanding and knowledge, we shall – ideally – be able to distinguish more accurately between the very narrow but dangerous fundamentalism when it shows its face, and the broad mainstream cultural backgrounds to which most people belong and with which they merely want to live in coexistence with other cultures.

The Work of Art: In the art installation The Children of Abraham 3 religions dark and bright sides are placed across from one another, but also together. The spectator is challenged simultaneously by the immense physical dimensions of the work and its presence and at the same time by the powerful message: no religious text of any monotheistic religion is completely free of dimensions that are incompatible with humanism and modern democracy. The work has very powerful contemporary dimensions that comment on society. Children of Abraham is a work of art that utilizes the textural and communicative possibilities of art to put focus on the subject matter and set the scene for it. The message is intensified, and the work of art is provocative. This means that the work of art places itself in art history's category of works and artists that want their art to be provocative, give rise to debate, comment on society, and change contemporary society.

The religious theme can be very controversial. Therefore, I have made several prior test exhibitions and made adjustments to ensure that the project is perceived as conversational within all three religions, without making the work bland. So far there have been no shrill discussions or reactions. The exhibition was opened by the Danish Bishop, Henrik Stubkjær.

After the present exhibition, 25 EU parliamentarians from the Christian Democratic group have invited Galschiøt to present the Fundamentalism-sculpture in front of the EU parliament in Brussels. The secretariat is working on further exhibitions in such different places as Israel/Palestine, Russia and USA.

I hope you like the project and can take the time to visit Denmark for a presentation of the art installation.

Best regards

Jens Galschiøt – Artist

About the Artist Jens Galschiøt

By Bruun Rasmussen, Scandinavia's largest auction of fine Arts.

"Internationally, Galschiot could be characterized as one of the most significant Danish artists of late modernity (after 1980). His artistic production covers a wide field of expression; from jewellery and small dainty figures to gigantic, politically emphatic sculptures.

He is among the best-known Danish artists abroad. His reputation extends from Hong Kong, and Mexico to Germany, Spain, and the U.S.A. Apart from clothing sculptures Jens Galschiot creates international happenings to highlight the present imbalance of the world".

Review of previous exhibition

By Museum Director, mag.art. Lise Jeppesen, Randers Art Museum

Between April 21st and Juli 22nd 2012, Randers Art Museum showed the special exhibition JENS GALSCHIØT BETWEEN ART AND POLITICS. (…) A large number of strong and expressive sculptures from 1989 until today were shown at the exhibition, and in different ways each related to the problems of the global society; violence, homicide, racism, intolerance, hunger, pollution and much more.

(…) Even two years after, the exhibition is mentioned by the townspeople, the local collaborators of the museum and politicians. The exhibition was a huge success with the audience, and during the period of the exhibition, the visitors at the museum consisted of a far more differentiated crowd than usually."

Review of The Children of Abraham/ Fundamentalism

By Iben From, director, MSC mag. art history and religion, master of museology.

Art Installation With Meaning

Political Art: Some will feel provoked and reject the possibilities in the work, while others will gradually embrace it as a possibility. Political art is about having a message and wanting to change society. Here, both ignorance and fundamentalism are criticized. Historically, political art has often dealt with injustice, war efforts, oppression, racism, social inequality, environmental issues, and such subjects, as was also the case with Danish art during the 1970s. With Children of Abraham, the spectator is enlightened through the research of the artist and urged to reflect on similarities and pitfalls to modern society in texts and dogma of monotheistic religions. The work could be criticized for ignoring the religious preaching and interpretation that is another important part of practices and cultures of all religions. This is artistic freedom. In this lays room for another debate.