Film still from "You had to be there". Photo: Samuel Voigt Lind

Blue Friday: You had to be there

Film and conversation

On 30 August 2024, the Moderna Museet Youth Council presented their film “You had to be there”, created in conjunction with the exhibition “Seven Rooms and a Garden: Rashid Johnson and Moderna Museet’s Collection”. During the evening, representatives from the council shared their thoughts and insights about both the film and the exhibition.

“You had to be there” (2024) is the Moderna Museet’s Youth Council’s creative response to an exploration of the exhibition “Seven Rooms and a Garden: Rashid Johnson and The Moderna Museet Collection”. Together with curator Hendrik Folkerts, the Youth Council has delved deeply into the various themes of the exhibition and intertwined them with their own thoughts and reflections.

On 30 August, “You had to be there” was screened with representatives from the Youth Council present. During the evening, they spoke about their work in the council, the film, and the exhibition “Seven Rooms and a Garden: Rashid Johnson and The Moderna Museet Collection”.

You had to be there

45 min, 2024

“You had to be there” reflects a range of emotions, including the fear of missing out. The film raises questions, similar to those that Rashid Johnson poses through his art. Themes such as watching, witnessing and being seen are central to the film. What are they watching? What are they feeling and thinking? What happens in the film and what stories are told?

The slow pace of the film and the active watching of the people being filmed, can create an uncertainty in the viewer. Perhaps we can regard “You had to be there” as a portrait of the Youth Council?

“You had to be there” is the seventh film to be included in the film programme in connection to “Seven Rooms and a Garden: Rashid Johnson and The Moderna Museet Collection”.

Moderna Museet’s Youth Council

Moderna Museet’s Youth Council started four years ago as a way to increase young people’s influence on the museum. The council consists of ten young people between the ages of 18 and 23. The aim is to get young people’s view on Moderna Museet, incorporate their ideas into the museum’s work and activities and, by extension, to be able to attract more young people to the museum. The council is given the opportunity to get to know the museum and reflect on, e.g., exhibitions, texts and the museum’s various digital channels.

Read more about the Youth Council’s work: Moderna Museet’s Youth Council