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UW Honors and iSchool in Copenhagen: Culture, Colonialism and Why Public Art Matters
Aug 16, 2022
Juliana S. Villegas
The University of Washington (UW) study abroad program, "Honors and iSchool in Denmark: Colonialism, Culture, and Why Public Art Matters" is a collaboration between the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program and UW's Information School, funded in part by Scan Design Foundation. Running from August 21- September 11, this highly interdisciplinary program brings together 17 undergraduates and graduate students in Copenhagen, with an excursion to Aarhus, to learn about the interplay of public art and activism in making visible colonial histories and identities in Denmark, past and present.
Foundational learning will include Danish history and culture, site visits to museums, art galleries, public art installations, and guest talks with community scholars and leaders at Danish cultural heritage institutions. Public art installations such as I AM QUEEN MARY (now virtual) will illuminate the process of bringing together artists, cultural heritage institutions, government, and communities to engage in the complex process of social justice activism through public art.
The program directors work in collaboration with students and Danish colleagues to facilitate nuanced and respectful dialogues, always with a view to the U.S. and its construction of history and identity through art and public engagement. Personal reflection and deep listening are foundational aspects of the program as we engage in respectful conversations around the complexities of identity and its construction within Denmark and the U.S. (individual, family, community, nation, global).
Through blogging the students are currently reflecting on topics of identity and are exploring other pre-departure thoughts. Here is an exerpt from a pre-departure blog by one student, Grace, who is participating in this program:
What is identity? By Grace
Is it formed from things we can change or what we can’t control? While we don’t choose the country or language we are born into, people often express themselves through what they wear or what they create.
La Vaughn Belle, one of the artists behind “I am Queen Mary” explored identity while renovating an abandoned building in the Virgin Islands. While rebuilding this space, Belle discovered pieces of the country’s history that resonated with her past. Coral stones were found underneath imported Danish bricks. She notes how these stones were cut from the ocean floor by enslaved Africans and used for the unseen foundation. Belle made etchings of these rocks for her exhibition. In her search of Danish colonial archives, she found few images of Africans living in Denmark but certain images mirrored her own family photos. Although these photos were from different eras and countries, they share shocking similarities.
Belle found these inspirations when she was physically present in a new space. Rebuilding the house and traveling to Denmark allowed her to make connections to her own family history. This is one reason why I chose to study abroad. The deepest discoveries about our individual identities are made when we encounter new spaces. While one aspect of my identity is being American, I did not examine my own “Americanness” until I took an international communications class. Having to explain certain aspects of my culture and language allowed me to juxtapose my identity with others and find similarities. Traveling to Denmark presents the opportunity to continue making comparisons like Belle made with her family photos. Already in the Nordic Museum exhibition, I saw portraits of people with my wavy, rounded nose. From the busking articles, it seems like Copenhagen at least shares Seattle’s rain, so I’m sure I’ll discover more similarities once I'm there.
Follow along with the students' experiences by reading their blogs. Read about their current pre-departure reflections. The blogs can be found on this website.