A Place To Belong

Valdemar Andersen, detail of the decorated ceiling and formal doorway to the courtroom 

in Fleskum-Herred (Aalborg), 1920/21. Photo: LCL. 

NOOOOOOOOO! - The architect Ejnar Packness wrote - or words basically to that effect - on the happily jumping little pig that was supposed to be the heraldic wild boar of the county. Valdemar Andersen was of a quiet disposition while confident in his art so he made no answer and soon Packness was as much in love with the happy pig as everyone else has been who has entered the courtroom since 1920/21. 

Standing only on a chair, Niels is our human scale to the dimensions of one of Valdemar Andersen's most sumptuous decorations. The ceiling is rather low considering the size of the room. The room has a horizontal feeling to it, encompassing everyone in it while obliterating any hierarchy between them. This in a courtroom meant to welcome the King too when he was in town. 

Valdemar Andersen, detail of the decorated ceiling and formal doorway to the courtroom 

in Fleskum-Herred (Aalborg), 1920/21. Photo by Niels C.B. Larsen.

What can be detected from this one aspect of the room is the substantial size of each element on the ceiling. We see only the ones right above ourselves. The quality of the ceiling can be sensed as continuous across the room, but while we sit underneath that stork or that baby we bond with them 101. 

This then is where we belong right here and now, lifting us out of our own minds by directing our attention to the littlest of details such as the stork treading carefully among delicately willowing strands of grass. 

A courtroom is the apparent serenity of the most difficult emotions. Fear, anger or grief. Whatever the situation, the ceiling has remained a presence of genuine serenity.

Valdemar Andersen, detail of the decorated ceiling for the courtroom 

in Fleskum-Herred (Aalborg), 1920/21. Photo by Niels C.B. Larsen.