October 4th 2016

Esbjerg 014 – Esbjerg Skibet

Esbjerg 014 – Esbjerg Skibet

Esbjergs newest landmark, “Esbjerg Skibet (“The Esbjerg Ship”), is a granite sculpture, by Jørgen-Martin Pedersen from Vejrup, depicting a sailing ship.

“Esbjerg Skibet” was a donation, to the city of Esbjerg, from the “Claus Sørensen Fund” on occasion of the 100th birthday  of Tage Sørensen (1915 – 2016).

The sculpture was unveiled on December 5th 2015 (Tage Sørensen’s birthday) and at the same time, the square on which it sits, was named “Tage Sørensens Plads” (Tage Sørensens Square).

The sculpture measures more than 6 metres in height (including the plinth).

Curiously, on the date of unveiling of the sculpture, Tage Sørensen paid to make sure, that the residents on all the nursing homes in Esbjerg Kommune was served Port Wine and chocolate, as he knew it wouldn’t be possible for everyone to attend the unveiling.

The “Claus Sørensen Fund” was established in 1964 by one of Esbjerg’s great sons: Claus Sørensen, founder of the “Claus Sørensen Group”. The fund has contributed to many charitable causes in Esbjerg Kommune over the years.

Claus Sørensen Gruppen (The Claus Sørensen Group) was founded in 1926 by Tage Sørensens father, Claus Sørensen. It started out with the establishment and operation of cold stores along the west coast of Jutland. Today the activities include many other industries, and has produced several of the largest companies in Esbjerg and the surrounding areas.

Claus Sørensen himself passed away in 1976, leaving Tage Sørensen to continue his life’s work, which he did with great success.

September 28th 2016

Esbjerg 013 – Man Meets the Sea

Esbjerg 013 – Man Meets the Sea

Somehow, to me, it’s cliché to have Svend Wiig Hansen’s monumental sculpture represent Esbjerg. Especially since I’ve set out trying to show the not-so-usual side of the city.

However, “Man Meets the Sea” IS very representative of modern Esbjerg, as it’s one of the things “outsiders” refer to when talking of the city.

Having lived for 20 years away from Esbjerg in Copenhagen, even I myself have fallen prey to that notion.

I’ve tried to shoot the sculpture in a way that is different from the typical tourist and postcard snapshot and I hope to instill a bit of interest from this different perspective.

According to visitesbjerg.dk: the scultpure was raised in 1994 on occasion of  Esbjerg celebrating its 100th anniversary as an independant municipality. The official unveiling took place on October 28th 1995.

The sculpture portrays the meeting between pure, unspoilt mankind and nature. Man, innocent as from his mother’s womb. Man before rising up and beginning to act. That, according to Wiig Hansen, was where things started to go wrong – when man got”dirt” on his hands.

Wiig Hansen has portrayed this encounter by creating a universal sculpture that has the mood of a temple, of an acropolis – a sculpture with a sacred aura to it. This sacred aura is attained by the rigid appearance of the human figures, something which reminds the onlooker of the Memnon columns or Ramses II gazing out over the Nile Valley at Abu Simbel. It is also impossible for the onlooker not to be reminded of the mysterious stone figures on the Easter Islands.

The legs are like the columns of a Greek temple. The lower legs have been made so long precisely so as to achieve this columnlike effect. The upper legs are short in proportion. The identical heads, which with their inscrutable and unfathomable expressions gaze out towards Skallingen and the entrance to the harbour, also contribute greatly to the glimpse you get of the supernatural – a hint of the divine.

The sculpture is not tied down to any one age. Its expressiveness, laden with atmosphere and emotion, makes it eternally valid.

That the number of figures sitting on the shore is precisely four is because Wiig Hansen found the number harmonious – more in accordance with the basic sculptural concept of “pure” mankind than, for example, three or five. Because of its size (it is nine metres tall) and charisma, the sculpture has become a landmark for Esbjerg. In clear weather the bodies, sitting there like unfurled sails, can be seen 10 kilometres away.

The sculpture is located on the sea shore 4 km north of central Esbjerg.

September 25th 2016

Esbjerg 010 – Memorial Wall

Esbjerg 010 – Memorial Wall

At Fovrfeldt Cemetary, you find this Memorial Wall, commemorating the Esbjerg citizens, who fell victim to the Second World War (1939 – 1945).

The bronze relief shows Death, in the guise of an adult man, putting his arm protectively and comforting around the young man, gently leading him across the threshold between life and death.

September 20th 2016

Esbjerg 008 – Crucifix

Esbjerg 008 – Crucifix

Outside the Trinity Church, at Grådybet 23, 6700 Esbjerg, sits this Crucifix.

When hurricane “Adam” hit Esbjerg on December 3rd 1999 Esbjerg, it tore off the original roof of the Trinity Church.

Deciding it would be a shame to discard of the remains of the old roof, artist Erik Heide was commisioned to create the Crucifix.

September 18th 2016

Esbjerg 007 – Christian IX

Esbjerg 007 – Christian IX

The equestrian statue of King Christian IX, located at the Market Place (Torvet) of Esbjerg, was a gift from the citizens of Esbjerg, presented to the city in the year 1899.

The bronze statue was scultped by Ludvig Brandstrup (1861-1935) and carries an inscription:

”Til Aere for Byens Grundlaegger rejste Borgere i Esbjerg dette Mindesmaerke”

”In honour of the founder of the town citizens of Esbjerg erected this monument”

Also the Royal Danish Arms is presented in bronze on the plinth of the statue, with the added inscription:

”Med Gud for ære og ret”

”With God for honour and justice

Whilst being presented to the city in the year 1899, the statue wasn’t actually finished until 1900, as the plinth of the statue stood empty for that period, as a result of a strike.

There’s a similar statue, also sculpted by Ludvig Brandstrup, of Christian IX in the city of Slagelse.

Christian IX was the King of Denmark from 1863 through 1906 and having lost the port of Altona to the Germans during the second Schleswig war in 1864, the King signed a bill from parliament in 1868 for the establishment of a harbour in Esbjerg, thus being recognised as the founder of the city of Esbjerg.

August 28th 2016

Esbjerg 005 – Tall Ship

Esbjerg 005 – Tall Ship

This sculpture was a gift to the Port of Esbjerg, donated by Sigurd Pedersen, at the 125 year anniversary of the port in 1993.

The artist, Gunnar Pedersen, made the sculpture from “Weathering Steel”, which  is a group of steel alloys developed to eliminate the need for painting, and form a stable rust-like appearance if exposed to the weather for several years.

You’ll find the “Tall Ship” at the port administration offices, at Hulvejen 1, 6700 Esbjerg

August 15th 2016

Esbjerg 001 – City Arms

Esbjerg!

It’s where I was born and raised…

…and the place I returned to in 2013, after having spent the previous 20 years in the city of Copenhagen.

Today I’m back in Esbjerg, but I’m not yet an Esbjergenser and I don’t know if I ever will be!?

Everyday I try to cope with being back and try to find my place in the city.

The series of pictures I’ve titled “Esbjerg” is one way for me to get to know the city a little better.

I’ve tried to capture a not-so-usual side of the city. Tried to look at the city with the eyes of someone who used to live here, but has been away for a long time.

Also I’ve tried to look away from “the usual suspects”, when shotting these pictures.

So I’ve tried NOT to shoot the obvious (e.g. “Mennesket Ved Havet”)… Or at least: shoot “the usuals” in an unusual way.

’nuff said, on to the picture at hand:

“Esbjerg 001 – City Arms”

The Esbjerg City Arms was officially granted in 1903.

The seal show a linden tree and two anchors. The linden tree symbolising the first (linden) tree of the city and the two anchors relate to the fact, that the city is one of the largest harbours in Denmark.

Prior to 1903, the city used a different (unofficial) arms, with a steamer and a dolphin. This seal was used in the years 1893 – 1903.

This particular copy of the City Arms is located at the entrance to Rybners Gymnasium at Grådybparken, 6700 Esbjerg

November 24th 2012

The Zinker

I needed to clear my head and excercise my leg, so I went for a walk along Langelinie and around Kastellet today and on my way I met this chap…

So I guess I’m not the only one that enjoys doing my thinking at the sea ;-)

May 25th 2012

Up Close And Personal

“Mennesket Ved Havet” by Svend Wiig Hansen.

I just love these monumental figures sitting at the beach by Esbjerg, doing what I like to do myself:

Just stare out at the sea, breathing in the fresh (some say fishy), salty air from the sea.

I might’ve left Esbjerg years ago, but there’s always gonna be a bit of Esbjergenser in me!

May 20th 2012

Byfraktal

I was out enjoying the sun and catching a glimpse of the Copenhagen Marathon, when I passed this sculpture.

It’s called “Byfraktal” and is by Elisabeth Toubro.

Now the marathon… Actually it made me think I shouldn’t be too concerned about my knee.

You see, apparently just about all the runners I saw, were limping along at about the same rate and in the same “style” as me…

No mentioning of the almost 42 km they had completed prior to me seeing them ;-)

But the sculpture is nice though :-)