Phantom drawing the only indication of what Johannes was like – NRK Vestland

On March 7, 2013, Johannes Eduard Kukk died in Bergen, at the age of 92. The Estonian sailor had lived in the city for more than sixty years, mostly in solitude of his own choosing, except for a few years as the adult adopted son of a colleague.

For the last twenty years of his life, he lived in a senior center in Engen, in the city center of Bergen, where he remained indoors and alone.

– The name was on a door here. I never saw him, but we knew he was in the apartment. It was probably a bit anonymous, says Anette Ravnøy, who ran the cafe downtown when Johannes was alive.

The Estonian sailor was so anonymous that there is not a single photo of him.

Invisible for sixty years in the middle of Norway’s second largest city.

– How is it possible? In our time, there are pictures of everything and everyone, says the host of the TV show “Unknown Heir”, Tarjei Strøm.

Ghost drawing made from 1954

He says finding a photo of Johannes first became a challenge, then almost an obsession, for the show’s team. When the sad reality occurred to them, the only option was to get a professional cartoonist to make a ghost drawing of the Estonian sailor.

To describe it they had Agnar Vesteng, who sailed with Johannes for fourteen days in 1954.

Their descriptions led to this portrait, which so far is the only indication of what John was like.

– I got goose bumps when I stood there with the drawing in my hand. The whole story was so sad. He made a big impression on all of us, says the host.

For Tarjei Strøm, it was very strong to stand in front of the door where Johannes lived the last twenty years of his life.

– Then the tears continued. The idea that he had been sitting here invisibly for 20 years. It remained hidden, even with a lot of people working there and only wanting the best. At the same time, I was living just down the road, in Sydneshaugen, and I was having a good time at the time, while he was sitting there alone.

I think there are more like johannes

The country’s leader, Jill Arild of the Mental Health association, believes the story is thought-provoking and a serious reminder of what can happen when a person more or less consciously withdraws from society.

– I think unfortunately there are more people like Johannes around here. Maybe especially in cities, where it’s a little easier to escape and disappear, says Arild.

– As long as they are not annoying to people, they are ignored. If no one catches him, they end up fighting their demons in silence for the rest of their lives.

It is supported by age researcher Thomas Hansen at OsloMet.

– Such stories appear from time to time. I don’t think it’s very common, but it does happen, Hansen says.

– It is not certain that the person himself has perceived the situation as sad. In some cases, these are people who do not have the same social needs as others. Other times it may be an involuntary loneliness, but that the person has adapted to the situation and has accepted it.

– Most people like to think of loneliness as something negative. Is that always the case?

– In research, we also think of loneliness as something negative, and it is defined as a negative phenomenon. At the same time, there is something called “good solitude”, time alone, which for many is absolutely positive and something of which we often have very little.

Expect a great rise in loneliness from the crown

Loneliness surveys conducted in June showed an increase in feelings of loneliness among people over 70, according to Hansen. For other age groups, there was little difference from the time before crown measurements were introduced.

The differences will be much larger when recent figures for November are released, the age researcher believes.

– There I expect a fairly clear increase for all age groups. People have been bored, there will be a greater impact from the corona measures, and we are also in the dark, in a difficult time, says Hansen.

Jill Arild in Mental Health believes that anyone can end up in a dark corner under certain circumstances. He fears that fear of infection and social closure may be factors that can affect many more in a negative way.

this year.

She believes that especially in these times, it is important to be vigilant if the people you know withdraw or become difficult to reach.

– I think there are more people available to be depressed and isolated now because of the special situation we find ourselves in, and there may be people who have not experienced such things to any degree before, says Arild.

– Be aware of behavior changes

– What danger signs should you watch out for?

– That people do not answer the phone or answer messages. Or if you see visible changes in their behavior. Then you should check how the person is. Say you worry and wonder what’s going on, says Arild.

Thomas Hansen of OsloMet supports the same advice and emphasizes the importance of asking open and direct questions that are not so easily dismissed.

– Be attentive, observe changes in mood and behavior, and ask how people are. Don’t ask yes / no questions. Also take an extra call to the elders of the family and be careful with those you know who sit alone a lot.

In various cultures it is said that one is not dead until someone says his name for the last time. If that’s correct, John will live a while longer.

Back in Estonia, his cousin Asta inherited the cousin he never knew, and his family now finally knows how he fared with the sailor who left in 1939 and never returned.

Thinking of John every day

In Bergen, Tarjei Strøm passes the Solheim cemetery daily, where Johannes Kukk had his last resting place.

– In fact, I’m a bit surprised at how deep it is in me. I think about him every day while driving. We lived at the same time, not far apart. It is strong to think about it.

Check out the full episode on Johannes Kukk here: