UNDER PRESSURE was an exhibition project as a reconciliatory and activist stepping stone towards a holistic and long-term social, architectural and cultural solution for Maria Kirkeplads. A space of reconciliation as a necessary prelude to a longer process about Maria Kirkeplads that will build understanding and recognition of needs and living conditions across groups in Vesterbro. 

Seeing poverty makes us afraid. 

Kenneth Balfelt and Johan August 

Inspiration 

The project is inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa 1995-2001, which was tasked with mapping the human rights violations that took place under the apartheid regime after 1960 and thereby facilitating reconciliation between the population groups. The Commission could grant amnesty in exchange for full testimony. 

For us, the Truth Commission is a bigger step for humanity than the moon landing. 

Kenneth Balfelt and Johan August 

The process 

UNDER PRESSURE begins in September 2023, where we held an activism meeting to get politicians talking about a long-term solution. a long-term solution, and, initially, two reconciliation meetings with all parties, the homeless users, local residents, the church, authorities and the municipality, to establish a common space for dialogue, reflection and realization.  

The focus was on the group of Romanian poverty migrants, as they are not heard and are one of the most stigmatized groups in society. This group of 20-30 people has been a regular visitor to the space - also at night, which has led to conflicts in the neighborhood and most recently in June 2023, frustrations led to a petition and raid by the police immigration unit, who intimidated and threatened users away. 

In our interviews with the homeless, we found out that they have given up their own lives back in Romania to get jobs, which for the vast majority end up collecting deposits so they can send money for their children and families' survival, schooling and health back home. In other words, they are legal EU migrants seeking work. 

Many neighbors wanted the conditions to change and were frustrated by the condition, which hasn't evolved much over the past 50 years. But after the clearance, things calmed down for the first time in a long time. Therefore, we interpret that the residents did not come to either the activism or reconciliation meetings. At the same time, we noticed that for the first time in 10-15 years, the labor migrants had been denied access to sleep at Marie Kirkeplads. This created further insecurity and poor sleep for them, which affected their ability to work.