New exhibition about the Nordic Witch Hunt engages the persecutions of the past to understand the violences of the present

On November 7, the major autumn exhibition ‘Witch Hunt’ opens at Kunsthal Charlottenborg. The exhibition includes both original materials from the 15th-18th century and newly commissioned artworks. Through the lens of contemporary art, the exhibition examines the under-explored regional history of the Nordic witch hunt, and the particularities of indigenous violence and gendered persecution. Among the artists are names like: Pia Arke, La Vaughn Belle, Louise Bourgeois, Carol Rama and Carmen Winant.

Exhibition period: November 7, 2020 – January 21, 2021
Exhibition opening: November 6, 12.00 - 20.00
Press opening: October 7, 10.30 - 11.30 with the curators and the exhibiting artist: Sidsel Meineche Hansen & Reba Maybury, Aviva Silverman, Virginia Lee Montgomery, Rasmus Myrup and New Noveta

The exhibition will present seven new commissions from internationally-renowned artists who, through research and dialogues with leading scholars, dive into the social, gendered, and geopolitical layers of the witchcraft trials. Along with existent artworks and original archival material from the period, the exhibition investigates how specific threads of the Nordic witch hunts, particularly relating to identity, cartography, climate, and systems of power, reverberate today. From the impact of Danish colonialism to the multifaceted violences of misogyny, the exhibition proposes a present haunted by persecutions of the past – but one that is also occupied by new critical voices of opposition.

The participating artists explore discriminatory fear and hatred as it spreads from both the bottom up and the top down—between neighbors onto larger communities and from governments to other political institutions, questioning how such narratives are often written out of history. At a time of global unrest, as the politics of commemoration are in question, Witch Hunt suggests the need to revisit seemingly distant histories and proposes new imaginaries for remembering and representation.

In connection with the exhibition, an ambitious bilingual reader will be published, which brings together leading new witch research, debates about the witch's current relevance, as well as contributions from the artists. Produced with support from The Nordic Culture Fund.

Witch Hunt at Kunsthal Charlottenborg is curated by Alison Karasyk and Jeppe Ugelvig and generously supported by 15. Juni Fonden, Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond, Axel Muusfeldts Fond, Grosserer L. F. Foghts Fond, Kern-Jespersen Fonden, Knud Højgaards Fond, Konsul George Jorck and wife Emma Jorck’s Fond, Nordisk Kulturfond and William Demant Fonden. Kunsthal Charlottenborg would like to give a special thank you to Michael Fornitz, who has made his unique archive of historical material available.

Participating artists: Pia Arke, La Vaughn Belle, Anna Betbeze, Louise Bourgeois, Youmna Chlala, Keviselie (Hans Ragnar Mathisen), Sidsel Meineche Hansen and Reba Maybury, Virginia Lee Montgomery, Sandra Mujinga, Rasmus Myrup, New Noveta, Carol Rama,Máret Ánne Sara, Aviva Silverman, Angela Su, Carmen Winant, Cecilia Vicuña

Practical details
Witch HuntNovember 7, 2020 – January 21, 2021
Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Kongens Nytorv 1, 1050 København K
Press opening: Contact: Oliver Riel: or@kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk +45 3374 4635

Hashtag
#WitchHunt

Photos in the press release
Virginia Lee Montgomery, Water Witching, 2018, video still. Courtesy the artist

Press materials
Press materials, including high-resolution photos, are available for download from Kunsthal Charlottenborg's website: https://kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk/en/exhibitions/w...

For additional information and materials, please contact:
Oliver Riel, Head of Communications, Kunsthal Charlottenborg
or@kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk / (+45) 3374 4635
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