CHRISTIANIA               |
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Christiania began as a dream that has continued for over 35 years. It was a former military facility within the quarter of Copenhagen where hippies, squatters and others gathered to create a life based on communal living. People are attracted to the intangible, and I suppose the dualities and magic mixture of anarchy and love that still exists in Christiania is what first drew people there.
In 1972, Christiania came to an arrangement with the Ministry of Defense of Denmark, regarding payment for electricity and water. They gave their political seal of approval as a “social experiment”. Danish governments have continued to change, and over the years they would ask for normalization, but without any indication of how or when. This process has continued throughout the existence of Christiania, but the current government is now beginning to take steps in normalization and things are quickly changing. In photographing the people and their personal spaces, I intend for the viewer to be led through an intimate journey. To understand why one is drawn to live here and stay here. When working and living in synchronicity, it strengthens us as individuals. I guess this is what we all want; to be strong individuals, yet part of something meaningful. Christiania is a place that exists in all of us. |
