Save the Children has been fortunate to receive a donation of 1,800 Eye idol figures by Danish artist Pernille Kløvedal Helweg. 

The figures can be seen in the beautiful Central Hall at the Glyptoteket from May 7th to 12th, where they can also be purchased. Each eye idol is unique, as is the price. They will be sold within a price range of approximately 250-1,000 DKK each, priced according to weight. 

Save the Children manages all sales, and the proceeds go entirely to Save the Children’s Disaster Fund. 

About the artist
Pernille Kløvedal Helweg is a contemporary artist who works across disciplines with drawing, graphics, photography, painting, installation, and clay. Characteristic of Kløvedal Helweg is her desire to explore and experiment with new materials and working methods. She has had solo exhibitions and group exhibitions at a wide range of museums and art galleries.

The artist’s words
“The Eye idols represents all the world’s children. With their significant eyes, they witness the complexity of life. They symbolize a cycle of birth and growth, aging and demise. Life and death. Decay and resurrection.” – Pernille Kløvedal Helweg. 

What is an Eye idol?
The Eye idols had their heyday 4,000 years ago and are particularly known from a temple in Tell Brak in northeastern Syria. The citizens of ancient Syria did not have time to stay in the temple for long to pray; they had to go home and work and take care of their families. Instead, they placed a small figurine – an eye idol – in the temple as a sort of substitute for the person who had purchased the figure. And then the eye idol prayed for them. 

The temple was later closed, and the eye idols were forgotten. But in the 1930s, archaeologist Max Mallovan found the eye idols, and people were fascinated by them. 

Now, Pernille Kløvedal has created her own versions, which you can buy to benefit children affected by war and disasters. 

We look forward to seeing which eye idol you will take home.