Girl with dead bird

Girl with dead bird by Don John

Girl with Dead Bird is located on one of the buildings at Brandts Klædefabrik facing Kongestien, the alleyway and parking area that runs behind the buildings on Kongensgade. Set slightly away from the busiest routes through the city centre, the artwork can feel like a quiet surprise when exploring the Brandts area. The location was chosen in collaboration with Brandts Klædefabrik, and the artist himself has pointed to the building’s yellow brickwork and distinctive cast-iron window as an important part of the setting.

The work is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Poor Woman and the Little Canary Bird. The story is about a poor widow who, after her husband’s death, has no money for food or even for his burial. A small canary flies in through her window and eventually leads her to people who are willing to help. It is a story about grief, compassion and hope, which Don John has reinterpreted in a contemporary form in the urban space.

Born and raised on Funen, Don John is known for his large street art works and his use of stencil techniques. He prefers to work under his artist name and has created works in both Danish and international cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Reykjavík.

Girl with Dead Bird is also part of Don John’s ongoing work with Hans Christian Andersen-inspired art in Odense. Elsewhere in the city, you can discover his interpretations of Andersen’s poems and fairy tales, where the famous author’s stories move out of the books and into the city’s streets, passages and facades.

The artwork was created with support from the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces.