The Horse Sacrifice, 30 Jan 1970, photo © Jørgen Schytte
The Horse Sacrifice, 30 Jan 1970, photo © Jørgen Schytte
The Horse Sacrifice, 30 Jan 1970, photo © Jørgen Schytte
The Horse Sacrifice, 30 Jan 1970, photo © Jørgen Schytte
Song for the dead horse that was sung during the happening
Ekstra Bladet 31 January 1970 “Cut the horse’s head off and mounted it on a long pole”
Front page of Ekstra Bladet 31 January 1970 “Sacrificed the horse as a protest against violence”
Stable in connection with the Horse Sacrifice for the exhibition Tabernakel at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, 24 Jan – 22 Feb 1970, photo © Bjørn Nørgaard
From the exhibition Tabernakel at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, 24 Jan – 22 Feb 1970, photo © Bjørn Nørgaard

The Horse Sacrifice

Happening, 30 Jan 1970

The original concept was to have the horse sacrifice take place at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art for the exhibition Tabernakel. However, the local police authorities did not allow the horse to be stabled at the museum, and so the action was relocated to a field in Hornsherred. The tabloid newspaper Ekstra Bladet was, rather strategically, invited to attend the action; the reason being that the newspaper represented a different take on a “social institution” which could replace the museum as a framework and setting for the action.

The sign reads “RØDE FANE (RED BANNER), FREDERIKSBERG, MARE, 12 YEARS. THE CHIEF CONSTABLE IN ELSIONORE AND THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE HAS BANNEDD THE EXHIBITION OF LIVING ANIMALS AT THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM. THEREFORE THE HORSE IS STABLED AT STENBJERGGÅRD RIDING SCHOOL."

 

Exhibitions
Tabernakel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark, 1970, Bjørn Nørgaard. Remodelling the World, National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2010, Horses, V1 Gallery & Eighteen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2017

Location

Kirke Hyllinge, Sjælland, Denmark

In collaboration with

Henning Christiansen and Lene Adler Petersen

Daily activities