Kalejdoskop is a safety-enhancing light installation co-created with residents of the social housing complex Ved Ungdomsboligerne in Gentofte. The work was developed as part of my Artist in Residence under the Danish Arts Foundation’s Huskunstnerordningen, in collaboration with Gentofte Municipality during 2024–2025.

Throughout the co-creation process, the residents—primarily Ukrainian refugees—were actively involved in and contributed to all key decisions in the creation of the work, including the choice of location, colors, patterns, form, and title. The name Kalejdoskop refers to the work’s shifting and fragmented perspectives, produced by the unique pattern formed by the colored LED fixtures. The word Kalejdoskop can be both understood and pronounced in Ukrainian and Danish.

Graffiti artists Isaac Malakkai and Martin Lints created the mural, which visually corresponds with the colors of the light and reinforces the installation’s overall expression.

The project was realized in collaboration with the Danish Arts Foundation and Gentofte Municipality, including the social housing initiative, Børn og Unge, and Kultur og Fritid departments. In addition, Den Kriminalpræventive Indsats, Park og Vej samt Vejdirektoratet contributed to the project.

Thanks to:

Sophie Fuglesang, Renata Marie Antoinette Hannah, and Elmedin Aksalic from Gentofte Municipality. Thanks also to Jacob Mads Nygaard from Technical & Environmental Services. Further thanks go to Christian Bache Randing (freespace_cph), Helene Kejser Pedersen, Martin Justesen, the Danish Road Directorate, DRIPS CPH, Andel Lumen, KAB-Ejendomme—and not least Gentofte Municipality.

Photos by:
Kim Høltermand (https://www.instagram.com/holtermand/)        

Links:
https://www.kunst.dk
https://gentofte.dk/boern-og-unge/
https://www.kab-bolig.dk
https://www.vejdirektoratet.dk
https://dripscph.com/