Link to Aftonbladet story: http://www.aftonbladet.se/senastenytt/ttnyheter/inrikes/article14690986.ab
Rough Google translation:
African Swedes requires departure Ministerial
STOCKHOLM. Afro Swedes’ Association calls for Culture Lena Adelsohn Roth departs. This was because she, according to the union, participated in a “tasteless racist manifestations.”
They are also known as Lena Adelsohn Roth in connection with the celebration of World Art Day April 15 cut up a cake, which depicted a naked black woman. According to Afro Swedes’ Association represented the cake to a racist caricature of a black woman.
According to the Modern Museum, the intention was to problematize female circumcision.
– To say that you did this in an honorable amplifies only the mockery of people who suffer from racism and against women who are victims of circumcision, says Kitimbwa Sabuni, who is spokesperson for Afro Swedes’ Association.
Afro Swedes’ Association is urging that culture minister resigns.
– Confidence is consumed. It is such a serious overshoot. She was a minister must have a feel for it and must be able to say enough is enough and do not participate in it as a representative of the Swedish Government, he said.
Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth understand the reactions.
– I understand very well that this provokes, and it was a very bizarre situation. I was invited to speak at World Art Day on artistic freedom and the right to provoke. And then they wanted me to cut up a cake, she said.
TT: Afro Swedes believe it was a racist caricature of the woman.
– Then they actually turn to the artist, I do not go in and reviewing art, but I can well understand the whole situation can be misinterpreted.
TT: But you will still in the cake?
– It did so, everyone, but it was perhaps a little shocking situation and that was also the artist wanted to achieve I suppose. He tells you it defies a romantic and exotiserande approach from the west on what is really about violence and racism. That’s what I have learned about the artwork afterwards. The art must be provocative, says Adelsohn Roth.
The artist who made the acclaimed cake called Makode Aj Linde. It was part of a major event that took place at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm. The organizer was the Swedish chapter of the International Association of Art (IAA), part of the Artist Organization (KRO), whose 75th anniversary was celebrated.
Besides the Minister of Culture speeches were made including a panel discussion on the fight against censorship and for freedom of art with some of the international art scene’s top names.
TT
Editor’s note: Read UbanLife.se’s article about Makode Linde.
