Framework: The Finnish Art Review
Issue 7 June '07: Nationality in Context

Buy this issue

Framework Issue 7, built upon a theme of ‘Nationality in Context’, was published as a special Nordic issue, focusing on the art scenes in five Nordic countries. It contains a special section - also published as a free copy newsletter - on the Nordic Pavilion and its satellite, the Aalto Pavilion, at the Venice Biennale. The seven artists represented at the Nordic Pavilion of the 52nd Venice Biennale, curated by René Block, were Adel Abidin (Finland), Jacob Dahlgren (Sweden), Toril Goksøyr & Camilla Martens (Norway), Sirous Namazi (Sweden), Lars Ramberg (Norway), and Maaria Wirkkala (Finland).

In the course of building up the famous Nordic welfare society the Nordic countries have willingly wanted to give an impression of themselves as caring and helping nations in the global context. However, all Nordic countries have an increasing number of nationalists who are demanding that their ‘own borders’ should be closed and striving to ensure that their part of the world retains its national sovereignty and economic privileges. Various contributors in this issue approach notions of the “other” that divide people into “we” and “them” and discuss the concepts of nationalism, nation-state, and trans-nationalism.

This issue also analyses the current art scenes in the Nordic countries, focusing especially on the younger generation of artists that has grown to believe in the idea of a welfare society, but who has been witnessing its gradual deterioration throughout the last decades.

* * *

Magazine on your screen

Download a free PDF copy of this issue and browse its content on your computer screen.

Issue 7: Nationality in Context