Here on Fiskergade 90, a kiss tells a thousand words. This is the Mågekysset Mural. It is a well-known piece of art in Aarhus.
The Mågekysset Mural was created in 1985 by the artist Hans Oldau Krull. You can even see it from Strøget when crossing Skt. Clemens Bro. The Mågekysset is a mural on the northwest gable of Fiskergade 90. There is also a small sign if you cycle past it.
Hans Krull’s Mågekysset depicts a woman kissing a seagull. But few people know the woman’s identity. The woman in the picture is Kate Svanholm. She was the lead singer of the punk band Lost Kids. They were a significant part of the 80s punk scene.
One day, the singer playfully posed with a stuffed seagull in Krull’s workshop. This scene was photographed. It was then transformed into a linoleum cut.
Originally, Krull created the Mågekysset as the cover art for the LP “ALBATROS” in 1982. The album was a collaborative effort. People around Gnags and the record company Genlyd were involved. Gnags’ guitarist Per Frost produced it. He worked with artist Ingvar Cronhammer.
Hans Krull explains the mural’s deeper meaning. The image symbolizes kisses. It represents the drowned sailor’s farewell. He also said that sailor’s wives are like widows with living husbands. They often didn’t know if their husbands would return home. So, it is perhaps her dreams of him and the uncertainty of being a sailor’s wife. It is actually a tribute to the sailor’s wives.
In 2013, ALBOA renovated Fiskergade 90. Hans Krull climbed up. He repainted the mural. He restored the seagull’s bright yellow eyes.
So the next time you pass the Mågekysset Mural, remember its story. Think of Kate Svanholm’s playful kiss. Remember the tribute to the unsung heroes, the sailor’s wives. The Mågekysset continues to be an iconic symbol of Aarhus. It captures both art and local history.