Welcome to Den Friere/The ‘more’ Independent!
Since my Otto Frello portrait was rejected by Den Frie/The Independent, I’ve started creating my own Happenings outside.
First I stood in the central reservation and painted a ‘letter’. (Read about it under the title In the Red Corner/I det Røde Hjørne)
The following year I brought a big board and made a protest where I quoted people who criticised the exhibition for being lacklustre.
This year I opened Den Friere, which both means The Freer or More Independent because I really think there is something awry
with the snobbery of the elite art world.
Here is a sign showing the way to Den Friere/The more Independent exhibition. One thing that makes it very free is that I sought
permission from the council – which is free – and they don’t censor the content 🙂
Two folks I know from Christiania’s Uncensored February exhibition came along and joined in my exhibition opening. I felt it was
appropriate with a rebel fist for the occasion 😉
To the right is my friend and accomplice, who helped me set up the outdoor exhibition.
Meagre beginnings, but definitely not meaningless. Due to the weather and difficulty transporting the original painting, I had to make
do with a frame high quality copy. The original is a good bit larger.
At the end of the evening, one of the artists I had met last year turned up for some mulled wine. Between last year and this year, I
invited him to take part in an exhibition called The Missing Dialogue, which ran in Gallopperiet, Christiania in July ’16.
To the right of me there is a postbox people could put their contact details in if they wanted to hear more.
Interestingly enough, I got a lot of positive response for the Happening this year. More so than last year. As has been the case every year,
I got a visit from some of the ‘insiders’ but they were friendly and listened to what I had to say. Maybe they even agreed…
Roll on next year for the next ‘exhibition’/happening 🙂
I’m free!
