WELCOME (2016)
/ Velkommen, 2016
Addressing visitors to the prison
How do you welcome and bid farewell to the visitors in a prison? The work Welcome in Vestre Fængsel addresses this question by means of an architectural installation based on conversations with inmates.
The result is a work that combines minimal statements in neon signs and light interventions at the entrance and exit of the prison. Outside, a simple sign says ”Welcome”, in the hallway a sign says ”Good you’re coming” and ”Miss you” – and at the exit: ”Good you came, thank you”. Additionally, four cracks of light highlights the visitor’s entrance as an independent structure, breaking through the walls of the prison.
Engaging the inmates in the process
The vision of the work is to find an appropriate way to express the significance of the visit and the gratitude of the inmates to the visitors.
The statements are based on meetings and workshops with a group of 12 inmates. Furthermore more than 80 inmates we involved in expressing and phrasing the wording for the signs.
The process and result of the dialog is documented in the booklet “Velkommen” (“Welcome”).
Work
An architectural installation at Vestre Fængsel.
Exhibited / Presented
Vestre Fængsel
Collaboration / Funding
The Danish Art Foundation
Københavns Fængsler
Institutionschef og fængselsinspektør
Arne Tornvig Christensen
Sektionschef Kim Danneberg Voss
Fg. Enhedschef Pernille Tonnesen
Inmates group by Rose og Flemming
Arkitekt Erik Møller
Neonsign
Graphic design and typography
Verena Gerlach
Photos by
Anders Sune Berg
A selection of pictures of the work
Vestre Fængsel, 2016. (Click on the picture for full size)
