Welcome HomeLess
31-10-2008

His hands are remarkable. They are drooping between his knees, as he is resting his elbows on his thighs when sitting on the chair. They are long and bony. This homeless man is not well. His pants are ragged, his sneakers are all worn out, and his blanket, which is draped across his shoulders, is full of holes. He is just sitting there with his eyes lowered to the ground, alone in the large workshop.

The homeless man is made of bronze, and the workshop belongs to the Danish artist Jens Galschiøt. This sculpture is the first one that Galschiøt has made for the exhibition Welcome HomeLess, and this homeless man is going to tour through Europe in 2010 together with 29 other bronze sculptures portraying homeless people. The aim with the pan-European exhibition is to create a Europe-wide debate regarding the rights and conditions of the foreign homeless people, as they move across borders within the EU.

The workshop with the grey concrete floor is lit up by several candleholders placed around the room, and in interplay with the sun outside they make the red bronze shine and twinkle. It is the first time that the principal organizers behind the exhibition, employees from projekt UDENFOR and from the advertising company TBWA\ see the sculpture. In co-operation with Jens Galschiøt, they are planning this touring exhibition in order to place some attention to the problems regarding the homeless in Europe.

As the homeless man is sitting there on his chair, portrayed in real human size, it is hard to oppress the urge to walk up to him and run a finger across the knitted fold on his hat or across the rough surface of the blanket. The despairing look on the sculpture’s face is very much in contrast to the large smiles and vivid conversation between the principal organizers.

A necessary debate

Europe today is a Mecca of opportunities, but homeless people are a very vulnerable group that often does not get the help they need, especially if they are moving across borders within the EU. One of the most occurring situations right now is that a promise of work in another European country falls through, and because of this a man is now trapped in the streets of a foreign country with hardly any rights. Europe is inciting you to migrate, but does this also involve the weaker members of our society? And which rights fall to the benefit of the most vulnerable citizens in Europe, when they tour through the member states in search of happiness?        

We are using the sculptures made by Jens Galschiøt to create awareness towards the problems that surround the rights of the homeless. By inviting ‘the homeless’ into a member state, the citizens and the politicians also invite the debate regarding the homeless says Ninna Hoegh, Head of Secretariat in projekt UDENFOR.

The debate regarding homelessness is important, and it is necessary to create more awareness towards the backside of the European freedom. The cosy atmosphere in Jens Galschiøt’s workshop, where the homeless man in bronze is now is very different from the harsh reality that surrounds the real homeless people in Europe. In the streets are violence, uncertainty and sickness just a part of life.    

Unity and interest

The touring exhibition will be launched from Brussels in the beginning of 2010. Brussels represents the heart of Europe, but it is also a political centre, and Welcome HomeLess is all about addressing the united community that the EU is. The entire exhibition will run as a relay, and the execution of the touring exhibition does rely on co-operating NGOs in Europe. The different local help-the-homeless-organizations in the member states must greet ‘the homeless’ with open arms.  

Many of my sculptures have travelled the world, and since they often evoke interest from people passing by them, whether it is astonishment or aversion, they always leave an impression in people says Jens Galschiøt, and continues; these sculptures of homeless people will also make people stop and wonder.

It is not only the debate that needs to rise from Welcome HomeLess. The principal organizers behind the exhibition also want to invite the passing people in the streets to donate some of their spare change to ‘a homeless’. All the sculptures will function as collecting boxes. Art, debate and charity will be combined in this exhibition, and hopefully that will improve the impact.   

Please give a contribution

All donations will go to those organizations in the European countries that support the exhibition during the period of time the exhibition tours. Welcome HomeLess will end with a large auction, where all 30 sculptures will be auctioned off. The money made through the auction will also be divided between the participating NGOs, to improve their work for the homeless.

When winter once again brings darkness to the European capital cities in 2010, the homeless man with the bony hands and the knitted hat might be found by Nelson’s Column on Trafalgar Square in London, on the stairs by Sacre Ceur in Paris and next to the entrance to Palacio de Cristal in Madrid. He will sit there, his eyes lowered to the ground in hope of a better future for the homeless people in Europe, while he encourages people walking by to give him some of their spare change in the name of a good cause.         

Marie Skjelbo Justesen