Democracy will no longer be homeless

Per Hasselberg is an artist and founder of Konsthall C in Hökarängen.

“I decided to find the starting point of the Swedish ‘democracy structure’ and then move in there for a new project: Konsthall C. The starting point was Hökarängen – the test-site and the first suburb in the subwaysystem of Stockholm. My idea was to reactivate this historical model to deal with contemporary issues. But also to compare with other projects made by artists and social workers in those suburbs. As the planners in the fourties, still aiming to produce ‘active citizens with a capacity for critical thought and an interest in common matters.’ One could call this a counter-avant-garde approach where I investigate, and also make use of, the democratic structure as an artistic (and political) tool.”

Anton Vidokle (Moscow) lives and works in New York and Berlin. As the founder of e-flux, Vidokle produced and published online projects and print publications such as Next Documenta Should Be Curated By An Artist, Do it, Utopia Station poster project. With Julieta Aranda, he developed e-flux video rental – an artwork in the form of a video rental shop, which traveled to numerous institutions. Vidokle initiated research into education as site for artistic practice as co-curator for Manifesta 6, which was canceled. In response to the cancellation, Vidokle set up an independent project in Berlin called Unitednationsplaza—a twelve-month “exhibition as school” involving more than a hundred artists, writers, philosophers, and diverse audiences. Located behind a supermarket in East Berlin, UNP’s program featured numerous seminars, lectures, screenings, book presentations and various projects, and continued as Night School at the New Museum in New York City.

Most currently Vidokle is co-editing e-flux journal.