Historically, Danes have rarely shied away from pushing boundaries – evidenced by many from legendary director Carl Theodor Dryer (The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928) and Hans Christian Andersen, to the more contemporary cinematic auteur, Lars Von Trier, supermodel Helena Christensen and actor Viggo Mortensen.  Denmark is full of beauty and vivid imagination.  (Need further proof?  It’s also the mermaid capital of the world.) 

Thus, it’s little surprise that an erotica magazine, titled S (for sexuality), would come from Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital -- a city celebrated for its liberal, hard-partying atmosphere.  Not for the faint of heart, each issue of the biannual art-meets-porn publication comes with a bevy of breasts and plenty of genitals, presented via provocative photography. 

So, we caught up with Martin Christopherson, Editorial Director of S, at this week’s Milk Studios opening of a month-long S exhibit, to learn more about both Copenhagen and eroticism.  Without further ado:

How are you today, Martin?
Good.  I have a little hangover.

That was quite a party last night.  I have to ask, what was the motivation behind the ‘peep show?’ [A live peep show featuring scantily clad men and women, lots of leather, whips and restraints, not to mention transsexual Amanda Lepore.]

Our friends – Manny and Donny – have a set-building company, DMS.  They came up with the idea, so we put it in their hands.  We wanted to make the show ‘the best show in town.’  Like the magazine, we show what other magazines won’t.  

Do you find that the Danish are less inhibited than Americans?
We were the first to legalize porn back in the ‘70s.  I think we forgot that and we got a lot more prudish.  Maybe they don’t talk so much about sex in the US.  I think it’s more than a European/American thing.

The bodies in S are pretty spectacular.  How much Photoshop goes into each issue?
Varies from issue to issue.  Each photographer does their own retouching. We just give them a playground.  We give them a theme –this issue it was diversity.  It can be anything. 

So you don’t believe in limiting anyone’s fantasy or imagination?
Nope.  That’s why we created the magazine.  We thought other magazines had too much control.  

What does S find sexy?
Everything and anything goes.  

What do you find sexy?
Better not get into that.

What is the sexiest place in Copenhagen?
Our editorial offices. 

Really?
No [laughing].  We have a place called Lost.  It’s a shop selling underwear and things.  It’s quite good. 

And Tekinoktay – a high-class lingerie boutique.  They have lots of different brands, smaller brands.  It’s expensive – in the same league as Kiki de Montparnasse.

I think private parties are a lot sexier than going out to clubs.  It’s different when you’ve been in a relationship for a while.  And I see a lot of sex in the magazine, so I just like to relax sometimes. 

Is Copenhagen really a 24-hour party?
Yeah.  There’s a club scene Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and more and more on Sunday.  Now you can go out clubbing everyday.  The Rub-a-Dub club [Note: full name: ‘Rub-a-Dub Sundays – We Fuck up Your Mondays’] is good on Sunday to go and relax. 

What’s the best place for a smorrebord  [traditional open-faced sandwich]?
San-soucie or Thuresen.  Or Tolbod – in the heart of Copenhagen.  The best is the meatball sandwich, but with fish and some kind of pickle.  And remember the Schnapps.  You have to drink Schnapps.

You know, you should talk to Niko [Nicolas Branas, a DJ and music consultant for S] He knows all the best places.

[So we emailed Niko…] 

Niko, I've heard that Copenhagen is quite the party city, and that you might as well be at the head of the welcoming committee.  What are the best spots for partying into the wee hours?
Vega has had quite a renaissance the last couple of months with a new music profile that embraces the whole myspace/blog scene with bookings like Klaxons, Knife, etc.  The place has really become interesting.  Check out ‘special peoples,’ a bi-monthly event at Vega. 

Other good places include Thursdays at Pan, which on normal weekends is the gay club but on Thursdays gets transformed into a haven for the young and wicked. 

Any good spots for late night-dining?
Pizzahuset, also known as pizza porno, in Gothersgade, because of their tendency to show porno-flicks at night. 

What is the sexiest place in Copenhagen?
Gefion Fountain, located alongside Langelinie.  To have sex there is the ultimate place for young Copenhageners to let their amorines run free…

Where is the best place to meet the most beautiful people?
S-launch parties. 

The most decadent place?
Cozy Bar, an old gay club where reportedly a lot of crazy stuff goes on. 

What is Copenhagen’s best-kept secret?
Wascator at Refnaesgade in Norrebro… Very local and hip place to meet up for good times and organic food.  The bartender Jens is quite the character. 

The most indulgent dessert in Copenhagen?
La Glace at Skoubogade.  

Sexiest hotel?
For classy sex, Hotel Skt. Petri.  For fashionista sex, Hotel Fox. 

Best place to seduce a date?
Umami [note: it’s a sleek Japanese restaurant with three floors – a lounge with jazz music, non-smoking sushi bar, and slightly-French-infused restaurant.] 

Best place for outdoor sex?
Kastellet.

~Alisa Gould-Simon

See It:

For more from S, check out spublication.com 

Go There:

Umami, Store Kongensagade 59, 3338 7500

Tekinoktay Finest Lingerie, Silkegade 13, Kbh. K, 3391 6011

Rub-a-Dub Sundays at Stengade 30, 18 Stengade, 3536 0938

Peep Show photo courtesy of Nikola Tamindzic