In this episode we critically unpack For Those Who Couldn’t Cross the Sea with curator Elham Fakouri and Sabina Westerholm, Director of the Nordic House. We discuss exhibition themes, the unique position of the Nordic House within the Icelandic art world and some of the inner workings of curating in public institutions. This episode concludes with focus on the current exhibition at the Nordic House, MASKS by artists Kjetil Ingvar and Gøran Ohldieck. This is take two for the exhibition, which was censored and taken down when first exhibited forty years ago, in the 80s, due to homophobic and anti-queer sentiments in management at the time. MASKS is curated by Ynda Eldborg and is a part of the official programme of Reykjavík Pride, 2023.
For Those Who Couldn’t Cross the Sea includes works by Adel Abidin, Ahmed Umar, Pinar Ogenci, Thana Faroq and Ibi Ibrahim. Through their works, these artists reflect on the experiences of refugees and migrants, as well as the challenges they face in their search for a new home. The aim of the exhibition is to build empathy and highlight patterns of trauma, erasure, identities, belonging, and home. For Those Who Couldn’t Cross the Sea opened on the 10th of May at the Nordic House and is on view until the 3rd of September, 2023. MASKS will be on display until the 24th of September.
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