Home is not just a place but a feeling – a feeling that can travel with us, no matter where in the world we are.
Ten years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life – I moved from Denmark to LA to live out my dream as an artist.
Even though I live on the other side of the world on a daily basis, it feels like my connection to Denmark has only become stronger, and more special, and I am proud to be from Denmark. I feel a special energy, I feel support and love from the Danes, and that means a lot to me.
It’s also one of the reasons why I’ve been working on a special piece for a long time, called ‘Vores Danmark’.
How can I explain this painting? Well, I can only express with words what words are capable of expressing – what our language can communicate. But the painting ‘Vores Danmark’ is much deeper than that.
It’s memories, feelings, and experiences.
It’s my journey as an artist.
It’s my upbringing in a country I deeply love.
It’s this tireless Danish spirit and my parents who always told me never to give up.
I grew up close to the water, specifically near Holbæk Fjord. The first thing I see when I close my eyes and think of Denmark is this wildly contrasting and juicy sunset reflecting in the fjord. I believe it has unconsciously influenced my choice of contrasting colors in most of my works.
But a sunset also reminds me that there’s a new day tomorrow.
It inspires me to live in the moment while knowing that, no matter how good or bad your day has been, there’s a new day tomorrow.
And there’s just something incredibly uplifting about that.
It’s entirely up to oneself to make the most of the day,
to appreciate every moment,
and to do better than yesterday,
to say what you didn’t get to say,
to see the people you didn’t get to see,
and to do the things you didn’t get to do.
I see the painting ‘Vores Danmark’ as a reminder to all of us that home is not just a place but a feeling – a feeling that can travel with us, no matter where in the world we are. I hope it brings as much light and hope to you as Denmark has always brought to me.
– Mikael B