There are 536 reasons for this work! That is the number of women killed in Denmark in the period 1992 - 2016.
Red Flags – Murders of Women in Denmark premiered in the local power center of Aarhus at the City Hall on 1st March 2024 at 7:00 pm. Duration 45 minutes. The work is co-produced by Kunsthal Aarhus.
Red Flags - Murders of Woman in Danmark is in part based on journalist Line Vaaben and forensic pathologist, ph.d. Asser Hedegård Thomsen's book "En forudselig forbrydelse - kvindedrab i Danmark " published by Forlaget 28B.
Seven red-and-white banners play a central role in the performance, each standing three meters tall. The banners’ traditional use in political contexts lends them an activist character with a clear sense of purpose, yet without slogans or recognizable symbols. They are made of silk, an exclusive fabric often used for dresses, scarves, and women’s lingerie. The light and airy silk contrasts with the tall, heavy pinewood poles with pointed ends, designed to appear both assertive and menacing. The white fabric of the banners features large red markings in carefully selected shades and gradients, evoking strong associations with violence and blood. Has the silk once wrapped around women’s bodies? Are the banners a weapon of defense, or perhaps evidence placed before the audience?
“To be completely honest, I was not aware that the killing of women in Denmark is so extensive, or that violence against women is so widespread. It has been both shocking and enlightening to become familiar with new research and knowledge of the subject. I've had to pause my research several times during 2023 because it fundamentally affected me to recognize that men kill and commit violence against women - because they are women”,
Artistic Director/ Artist, Nønne Mai Svalholm
You can follow Nønne Mai Svalholm and the entire artistic team in the process of creating the work on our new profile @seeredflags or on @svalholm. We hope you will follow us and share it with your friends.
We have allied ourselves with the organization Danner, Line Vaaben, a journalist at Politiken and author, and forensic pathologist Asser Hedegård Thomsen's new research in the field to ensure that the subject is treated with respect and with verified information.
Forensic pathologist Asser Hedegård Thomsen has in his PhD thesis "Homicide in Denmark 1992-2016" from 2020 uncovered all murders in the period 1992-2016 in Denmark. He concludes that over half (56 percent) of the women killed (298 women) in the period were killed by their partner or former partner.
For the female victims, the perpetrator's motive was predominantly jealousy and/or divorce. In general, partner murder accounts for 26.7 percent of all homicides in the period, which makes it the single largest type of homicide in Denmark.
Sources via link in bio here: @seeredflags @svalholm
Artistic Director/ Artist
Nønne Mai Svalholm @seeredflags @svalholm
Dancers/ co-creators
Hilde I. Sandvold, Escarleth Pozo, Isabella Khanamidi, Lisen Pousette, Alice Martucci, Anna Tulestedt, Stina Strange Thue, and SVALHOLM’s 60+ dancers Bodil Vind and Mette Koch.
Idea & concept
Artistic Director/ Artist Nønne Mai Svalholm @svalholm
Production
SVALHOLM @svalholm @seeredflags
Co-production
Kunsthal Aarhus @kunsthalaarhus @kunsthalaarhus_community
Collaboration partner
Danner @dannerdk
The 7 banners
Idea & Concept: Artist/Director Nønne Mai Svalholm @svalholm
Development and Design: The banners were developed, designed, and executed in collaboration between Artist and Director Nønne Mai Svalholm and the design duo KASPERSOPHIE @kaspersophie_studio
The banners was created at Statens Værksteder for Kunst December/January 2023-2024, and was exhibited at Kunsthal Aarhus in Gallery 1 during September 2024.
Composer
Katinka Fogh Vindelev @akainka
Author
Line Vaaben @livaaben
Text and resheach consultant
Ida Marie Hede Bertelsen @idamariehede
Publisher
Consultants
Marie Dahl @mariedahlcph
Ludvig Duregård @ludvig_gd
Strategy/ Administration
Jens Christian Jensen @jenschristian64
Producer
Kirstine Marie Bauning @kirstinemarie246
Project assistants
Maja Munk Johansson @majamjohansson
Emma S. A. Blæsbjerg @emmasteenab
Graphics & communication
Ægte Agency @aegteagency
Photography
Idea & concept: Artistic Director/ Artist Nønne Mai Svalholm @svalholm @seeredflags
Photographer: Peter Ravnsborg @mumilab
Performer: Sisse Lunøe @sisselunoe
Support
The Danish Arts Foundation @statenskunstfond
Augustinus Fonden @augustinusfonden
Statens Værksteder for Kunst @statensvaerksteder