Egeskov Castle

Today we visited Egeskcov Castle, a historic castle situated in Jutland, Denmark. The Castle was built in the 15th century by Lydike og Jorden Skinkel, and was later sold to the Bille family in the 18th century who still have ownership over the estate today. The large estate is located in Jutland's country side and is hidden from urban centers. The castle is the best kept water castle in Europe, and the estate's gardens have won several awards over the years. The estate is open to the public year round, providing access to the castle and the surrounding gardens, playgrounds, museums, and mazes. The castle was opened to the public in the 1960's after a recession in Denmark. The public access to the land is a great representation of the Danish egalitarianism, as it brings the rich down to the general public's income level.

The space is designed to target all people and make everyone feel welcome. This is done by making the tours offered in multiple languages and the multiple attractions appealing to all different age groups. The space is now used for public purposes such as cultivating food, educating visitors on Denmark's history, and amusing visitors. Transitioning the land from private to public use is clearly beneficial to the population of Denmark and the estate owners, which brings the two groups to a middle ground. The owners use the profits from the land to maintain the gardens, the castle, and the attractions, whereas the public benefits from the experience of visiting the property. This mutual relationship is important, as one cannot exist without the other, and this reliance on each other creates egalitarianism.

National Parks Comparison

For today's class, we had the chance to visit Gribscov, the second largest forest in Denmark. Arriving at the Nature Agency office, we were introduced to the agency and learned about their goals of protecting and maintaining Danish greenspaces. As a class, we were made aware of the  Nature Agency's on going struggle to establish Gribscov as a national park, against contested legislature and land disputes. After learning about these issues and experiencing Gribscov first hand, I can say that there are distinct differences between Danish National Parks, and National Parks back home in Canada.

Although both Danish and Canadian National Parks share similarities in terms of their functions, such as being tourist destinations and recreational sites, both remain distinctly different. As a country, Canada is known for its natural landscapes and expansive wilderness. Currently there are 36 National Parks and 8 National Park Reserves spread throughout the country's provinces and territories. Compared to Denmark's 6 National Parks, Canada greatly outnumbers Denmark through its vast and diverse geography. In Canada, National Parks are owned and regulated by the federal government, in an attempt to preserve our natural landscapes and protect them from harm. This means that there is a zero tolerance for logging and harvesting timber, unlike Denamrk. In doing so, these National Parks will continue to exist, acting as a resource to both people and animals.

When looking at Denamrk, their regulation and management of National Parks greatly differs. As discussed earlier, the Nature Agency has had to deal with on going struggles to establish national parks within the country. The reason behind this, is the ownership of private and state owned land. As a result, many greenspaces such as Gribscov remain contested land, and are subject to stringent negotiation and planning by multiple parties, such as the Nature Agency.

Forests and Lakes

For today's class, we had the opportunity to experience some of Denmark's forests and lakes first hand. Since 1780, the woodland acreage of Denmark has gone through different changes, experiencing increase and decreases in the amount of area covered my forest. In modern day Denmark, forests account for approximately 12.8 % of the country's land mass. Looking back into Denmark's history, forests have always played an important role in its culture and development. Utilized as a natural resource in the early development of Denmark, forests were used to build on a large scale, and eventually became depleted. The Danish government decided to to put a stop to this by replanting thousands of trees, and to this day, woodland acreage is at an all time high in Denmark.

Today, woodland forests provide a number of useful functions to society. On an ecological scale, forests provide natural habitats for a wide range of animals, help to filter harmful CO2 emissions, and also aid in stabilizing soil and preventing sand creep. On a social level, forests and lakes provide a natural recreational area for people. As seen today during our class, forests and lakes provide people with many types of opportunities, which includes hiking, kayaking, and even touring by boat.

Although the forested area surrounding the lake was man made, it still felt very natural to me, and seemed far removed from the city. The greenspace was natural yet functional, and was the perfect way to be active and enjoy the weather. The peaceful environment is something that anybody could enjoy, providing people with many opportunities. This is a reason why woodland forests are such an important piece of Denmark's identity, and is a reason why they will continue to be in the future.

The Danish Coastline

In today's class, we learned about Denmark's coatscape and how it has shaped life and identity here in Denmark. Looking back into Denmark's history, its proximity to the coastline has always had a significant impact on the country, in terms of its economy and social being. Denmark's ability to control the narrow shipping lane between Sweden and itself, meant that they had control of a majority of the trade passing through the Baltic Sea. Besides regulating this trade route, Denmark was able to profit economically through their fishing industry, famous for herring. However, due to overfishing in recent years, the supply of quality herring have become depleted. This has had a negative effect on the export of this product. Besides benefitting from the ocean, the Danes also benefit from the northern landscape, which is used for raising pigs. The export of pork is a significant contributor in terms of the country's GDP. Currently, Denmark has close to 12 million pigs, enough for two pigs per person in the country!

Besides utilizing the coastline for its economic benefit, Denmark has developed the northern region into an area full of summer homes. These homes are only available by Danish citizens, and are used as a means of escaping city life. Located right next to the ocean, many of these homes offer a peaceful and serene environment, perfect for people to relax and enjoy the ocean. In the winter, many of these homes are not used, due to the constant upkeep needed to keep the properties functional. 

After being able to experience the coast today, I can understand why people would want to purchase property in Gilleleje. Its beautiful location and proximity to the ocean, is perfect for families, and is an ideal way to spend time in the Summer. The availability of fresh seafood didn't hurt either.

Olafur Eliasson

Today we focused on Olafur Eliasson, a famous artist known for his sculptures and installation works. Eliasson's projects consist of natural materials such as light and water, and are utilized in ways that emphasize time and space. In doing so, he creates an experience for his viewers, and impacts the way that they interpret his art. 

Eliasson discusses this relation between the viewer and space as tangible, explaining that as people start to interact with the environment, they begin to see themselves within it rather than separate from it. An example of this is seen in one of his most well known works, The Weather Project. The exhibit was placed in a large hall, and centered around a semi-circular disc made of light, and a mirror that spanned across the ceiling. Eliasson created an atmosphere that felt elemental, and was well received by the public, many of whom would lay out on their backs and interact with the mirror ceiling above. In this sense, I believe that Eliasson  succeeded in making the space into something that was functional, and transformed by the actions and behavior of the viewers. In a way, Eliasson lets his viewers become the creators, as they manipulate the space.

Many of his works also showcase that space has a dimension of time. The New York City Waterfalls are an excellent illustration of this relationship. Eliasson describes this experience through the example of viewing a waterfall in nature. From a distance, the falling water seems to slow down, but as you interact with the space and move closer, the water will speed up. The waterfalls in New York are meant to mimic this relationship, contrasted against the immense backdrop of New York City. Depending on how the viewer interacts with the environment, their perception and experience of Eliasson's work will hange.

Danish Landscape in Painting

For today's class, we had the great opportunity of visiting the Hirschsprung Collection and the Louisiana Museum Sculpture Park. The two museums were very different, in that the Hirschsprung Collection showcased several different paintings that depicted the Danish landscape during the Danish Golden Age of Painting, where as the Louisiana Museum showcased a variety of contemporary art, consisting of sculptures and paintings. 

The main focus of the class was on the Danish Golden Age of Painting, a period of time that was distinguished by a very particular style of portraying Danish Landscapes. Scenes were typically painted as idealized versions of their actual realities, and were manipulated under the discretion of the artist. In doing this, artists helped shape the perception of the Danish landscape at the time, depicting it as a vibrant and colorful environment that was full of life. Another characteristic of these paintings, was the apparent absence of the artist's brush strokes, which made the paintings more valuable. 

As explained by our tour guide, the horizon of the paintings were lowered in order to open up the sky and make it appear brighter. This was seen as a way to link heaven to earth. As well, paintings during this time period rarely depicted the winter months, since they were considered dreary and dark. In many cases where portraits were captured during seasons such as fall, they would often be touched up and altered in order to depict spring and summer months.

I found this to be quite unusual, but realized that this optimistic style of painting was a way of cheering people up during hard economic times. The paintings acted as an outlet for many people during these tough times, similar to the way that public greenspaces do in present day.

Himmelhoj and Alfio Bonanno

For today's class, we had the great opportunity to explore Himmelhoj, with its creator, Alfio Bonanno. Bonanno is a world-renowned artist who specializes in natural installations, utilizing materials that you would find in nature. His inspiration comes from natural landscapes, examining small details that spark his curiosity. During his lecture, Bonanno explained how in today's world, very little is left to our imaginations, due to the continually expanding digital world. As a result, human intuition, which Bonanno considers to be focal to his art, has become diminished. This statement made me reflect and think deeply about my own life and experiences, as I had never contemplated this notion.

Himmelhoj is a natural greenspace that is located on Amager Island, containing four installations created by Bonanno. The Amager Arc is the central component out of all of the installations. Upon arrival, I was in awe of the massive ship, which measured 60 meters in length. The arc felt very natural and almost seemed to melt into the landscape. During our visit, I noticed a group of kids running around and playing on the arc. They were enjoying the space, and I couldn't help but notice how pleased it made Bonanno feel. It was clear how passionate he was about his natural installations, but more importantly, how passionate he was about making other people happy through his art. 

Bonanno explained how the functionality of his natural installations were so important to him, and continually stressed how he has had to manipulate his art pieces, in order to make them safe for children to play on. Bonanno went on to reveal that although his installations have become popular with many people, they have been subject to vandalism over the years. This was hard for me to listen to, as it was obvious that he felt helpless in protecting his installations, pieces of art that he loved and had dedicated so much of his life to. Overall, my experience with Alfio Bonanno was deeply inspiring, and I look forward to seeing more of his creations in the future.

Edible Greenspace

During today's visits to Valby and Humlebaek, I was able to gain further insight into the Danish culture, revolving around greenspace. The first location that we visited, was a co-operative garden that is shared by a group of nine international gardeners. This garden was a place where the members could learn from one another, and practice different gardening techniques, with an emphasis placed on "just doing", rather than be rigid and calculated. According to one of the hosts, being a collective group and working on a single plot of land, was met by scrutiny by several directors, who claimed that it wasn't the traditional way of doing things. I realized that the Danes are very much obedient when it comes to certain aspects of their culture, which surprised me given the fact that they come of so liberal.

The second destination that we visited, was Aarstiderne farm, a business that is responsible for supplying and distributing healthy organic food throughout denmark. For many years now, Denmark has been a leader in the production of organic products. Given the importance of being green and living a healthy lifestyle, the consumption of organic foods has been steadily rising, and has become an important part of Danish life. During the tour, our guide explained that even though the price of organic food is noticeably more expensive, people are still willing to pay for organic products because they value healthy lifestyles. Aarstiderne provides an organic food service, creating boxes of organic fruits, vegetables, and meats, which can be delivered to households once a week. A great emphasis is places on sustainability and being environmentally friendly. Aarstiderne will only transport their goods by water or land, as they are the most fuel efficient ways of moving their product.

After experiencing the organic farm and learning about the importance of organic products in the Danish culture, I realized that their food choice very much reflected other aspects of their culture, which includes being green and living a healthy lifestyle. Even though food prices were more expensive, Danish people are willing to pay a little extra, even just a few times a week, in order to live healthier. This traditional way of living also extends into other areas such as farming practices, where the Danes remain closely tied to their rules and traditions, as seen by the scrutiny recieved by the group of international farmers.