Tag-arkiv: cartomancy

The Queen

As tradition dictates, Charlottenborg held its annual spring exhibition at the beginning of 2023 – a tradition that has existed since 1857.

Charlottenborg. Photo Per Jan

During the opening in February, where many art enthusiasts were present, a piece of art suddenly appeared that could not avoid attracting the attention of a cartomancer.

The Queen, (2022). Jørn Hulgaard Sørensen. Photo Per Jan

The piece, created by artist Jørn Hulgaard Sørensen and called “The Queen, (2022)”, consisted of a series of playing cards from all four suits, which were folded and arranged in such a way as to give a special spatial and plastic sensation. The royal cards in each suit were arranged to form a broad figure, but upon closer inspection, it turned out that only one queen was present in the artwork – namely the queen of hearts. She was surrounded by the jack of hearts, not the king of hearts, and the cartomancer wondered where the other queens had gone.

The Queen. Detail. Photo Per Jan

Normally, it is not the nature of the queen of hearts to chase away the other queens. It would have been more natural if the queen of spades was the only queen. She is often associated with being powerful, rivalrous, and calculating. But how had the queen of hearts ended up in this situation? The cartomancer left the question hanging and decided instead to investigate the queen of hearts’ fundamental role in a card spread. Not viewed from the perspective of the artwork or the cards seen as playing cards, but purely principle in a card spread when reading the cards. The queen of hearts is typically associated with love, care, family relations, mercy, and creativity, but the card reader was curious to hear what she herself thought of her role.

What is the role of the Queen of Hearts?

The answer came promptly, shown with the cards ace of diamonds and 7 of diamonds: The queen of hearts gives life and power to dreams and longings. The numbers 1 and 7 add up to 8, and the queen of hearts’ wish is to help distinguish between realistic and unrealistic dreams and longings.

It is a thought-provoking consideration that can be interpreted in several ways. Perhaps the queen of hearts represents a kind of guide or mentor who can help us distinguish between our innermost dreams and the opportunities that are realistic and achievable. Or maybe the artwork “The Queen” shows us that even though there is only one queen present, she can still have great significance and influence on the surrounding cards. It is up to the individual to interpret and reflect on.

Cards used in the spread: Hermès, Paris 1952. Artist, Cassandra

Update 09-05-2023: The artist has written the following comments about the artwork on Instagram: Not everyone becomes a king / Not all boys will grow to men – someone will be a Queen / from prince to King or from prince to Queen.

Dronningen

Som traditionen byder, afholdt Charlottenborg den årlige forårsudstilling i starten af 2023 – en tradition der har eksisteret siden 1857.

Charlottenborg. Foto Per Jan

Under ferniseringen i februar, hvor mange kunstinteresserede var til stede, dukkede et kunstværk pludselig op, som ikke kunne undgå at tiltrække en kartomantikers opmærksomhed.

Dronningen, (2022). Jørn Hulgaard Sørensen. Foto Per Jan

Værket, skabt af kunstneren Jørn Hulgaard Sørensen og kaldet “Dronningen, (2022)”, bestod af en række spillekort fra alle fire kortfarver, der var foldet og sammensat på en sådan måde, at det gav en særlig rumlig og plastisk fornemmelse. De kongelige kort i hver farve var arrangeret til at danne en bred figur, men ved nærmere eftersyn viste det sig, at kun én dronning var til stede i værket – nemlig hjerter dame. Hun var omgivet af hjerter knægt, ikke hjerter konge, og kartomantikeren spekulerede på, hvor de andre dronninger mon var blevet af.

Dronningen, udsnit. Foto Per Jan

Normalt er det jo ikke hjerter dames natur at jage de andre dronninger væk. Det havde været mere naturligt, hvis spar dame var den eneste dronning. Hun associeres jo ofte med at være magtfuld, rivaliserende og kalkulerende. Men hvordan var hjerter dame havnet i denne situation? Kartomantikeren lod spørgsmålet hænge i luften og besluttede sig i stedet for at undersøge hjerter dames grundlæggende rolle i et kortspil. Ikke betragtet ud fra kunstværkets perspektiv eller kortene set som spillekort, men rent principielt i et kortspil, når man læser kortene. Hjerter dame er typisk forbundet med kærlighed, omsorg, familieforhold, barmhjertighed og kreativitet, men kortlæggeren var nysgerrig efter at høre, hvad hun selv mente om sin funktion.

Hvad er hjerter dames funktion?

Svaret kom prompte, vist med kortene ruder es og ruder 7: Hjerter dame giver liv og kraft til drømme og længsler. Tallene 1 og 7 giver tilsammen 8, og hjerter dames ønske er at hjælpe med at skelne mellem realistiske og urealistiske drømme og længsler.

Det er en tankevækkende betragtning, som kan tolkes på flere måder. Måske repræsenterer hjerter dame en slags vejleder eller mentor, der kan hjælpe os med at skelne mellem vores inderste drømme og de muligheder, der er realistiske og opnåelige. Eller måske viser værket “Dronningen” os, at selvom der kun er én dronning til stede, så kan hun stadig have stor betydning og indflydelse på de omkringliggende kort. Det er op til den enkelte at fortolke og reflektere over.

Viste kort i oplægget: Hermès, Paris 1952

Opdatering 09-05-2023:  kunstneren har skrevet følgende kommentarer til sit værk på Instagram: Ikke alle bliver til konger / Not all boys will grow to men – someone will be a Queen / fra prins til Konge eller fra prins til Dronning