The Danish Parliament opens a photo exhibition

Five photographers interpret five themes 

Five photographers were asked to interpret five themes that were central to the amendment of the Constitutional Act in 1915 and still are today. The photographers were chosen to take part in the exhibition because they tell topical, moving stories that capture the public’s imagination and give food for thought. 

The five themes are: ACTIVISTS, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, PARTICIPATION and FELLOWSHIP. 

The five photographers are: MARIA FONFARA, KENT KLICH, CHARLOTTE HASLUND-CHRISTENSEN, 

SOFIE AMALIE KLOUGART and LÆRKE POSSELT. 

Introduction to the exhibition 

Denmark took a great step forward with regard to social equality 100 years ago. We gained a new Constitutional Act which ensured in earnest that representative government came closer to the ideal of genuine democracy. A number of ACTVISTS, who refused to accept the idea that democracy was limited to so few people, headed the movement to amend the Constitutional Act. They wanted many more people to have equal RIGHTS and an equal opportunity to influence political decisions. The constitutional amendment of 1915 created greater EQUALITY between men and women as well as among various groups of the population. Women were included in the democratic process as were servants and others who were not householders. The number of people entitled to vote grew from 17.5 to 40.7 per cent of the population. More people were able to PARTICIPATE in and enjoy the benefits of democracy. It is this enlargement of our FELLOWSHIP, from the few to the many, that we are celebrating in 2015. But how far have we come today? Are Danes equal now? Here and Now? 

Parliamentary Speaker, Mogens Lykketoft, says: 

“Each of the five photographers has created relevant and surprising interpretations of his or her theme. The exhibition contains many very intense, harsh and moving, but also positive, photos that are backed up very well by the accompanying texts, which are also an important aspect of the experience. The photos and texts give food for thought.”

The photos 

The photos can be seen in the Rigsdag Courtyard at Christiansborg from 4 June at 14.00. A smaller selection from the exhibition will then travel to the following towns: 

Allinge from 11 June to 14 June. 

Aarhus from 22 June to 26 July. 

Odense from 27 July to 9 August. 

Aalborg from 10 August to 13 September. 

Esbjerg from 14 September to 18 October. 

The photos can also be seen at www.ligenu2015.dk/en from 4 June. The photo exhibition is part of the Danish Parliament’s celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the amendment of the Constitutional Act in 1915.