Lejlighed Søger at Odradek

A new art space opened in Copenhagen last Friday–Odradek (Gammel Kongevej 23, baghuset, 1610 København V) with the collectively curated exhibition Family Man. The space is run by eight artists: Timothy Citizen, Simen Joachim Helsvig, Kim Young Kilde, Mathias Kryger (sub), Asle Lauvland Pettersen, Trine Mee Sook Gleerup, Tue Sprogø and Marie Thams. I was invited to participate by Odradek member and friend,  Marie Thams, and decided to present a selection of images from our Lejlighed Søger/Apartment Search sign collection. I displayed eighteen images from the collection but we now have almost thirty. We look forward to making this into a book in the near future.

Images here are courtesy of Odradek:

WALL TEXT FROM THE EXHIBITION:

This ongoing photographic series documents the public phenomena of apartment search signs in the Copenhagen area. Apartment search signs are public displays of need and emotion. They are designed to capture the attention of passersby with funny drawings, graphic design tricks, or simple statements. They are written to describe the best qualities of the apartment hunter. From this collection of instances of apartment search flyers found in cafés, on electric poles, on building walls, and trashcans a kind of map of Copenhagen begins to emerge. People declare their trustworthiness, their commitment to their studies, their love for one another, their lack of pets or the desire to smoke, hoping to attract a potential landlord. They are another kind of personal advertisement–a personal plea in public space.

 Students or recent graduates are the predominant makers of these flyers but families with young children, single mothers, and those who have recently moved to the city also make these signs. Copenhagen has an affordable housing shortage. Those that need an affordable room or apartment are often priced out of this competitive market. So the apartment search flyers reflect an economic reality for Copenhagen residents. Emotions, hopes, dreams, human need can all be read in this collection of apartment search flyers.