Virgin

“A virgin is a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth. In traditional European folklore, virgins are said to be the only people capable of subduing a unicorn. They can also walk through swarms of bees without getting stung, stare into the sun without coming to harm, and restore the flame of an extinguished candle. A virgin’s blood is a magical substance with the power to heal and bring happiness.”

For PQ2019 Denmark is bringing this magical creature – a real virgin born in 1987. With his own personal – and true – background as a 31-year-old virgin, set designer Julian Juhlin places his own body in the center of a scenography he designed to praise and exhibit this pure creature who possesses incredible powers. 2019 is the fortunate year in which the whole world gets the incredible opportunity to watch this magical figure up close!

The curators on the choice of selecting “Virgin” for the Prague Quadrennial 2019: In 2017 Juhlin toured Denmark with his “Virgin Tour” and placed his strange, fragile virgin-figure on display in the streets in big and small cities all over the country – parking lots, malls, and desolated countrysides got a visit from him in his box of glass.

To represent Denmark at the Prague Quadrennial we decided on this project for its ability to take the taboo of late-in-life virginity – and with humor and beautiful aesthetics – turn it upside down – and put it on show everywhere.

Virginity represents something you don’t do. In an ever-changing world where people are constantly forced to develop, Juhlin tries to stop time and stop developing – at least for the duration of the performance.

Country/Region Denmark

Presenting Organization Danske Scenografer

Curatorial Team Rebekka Bentzen, Sara Vilslev

Artists Julian Juhlin