Icelander doctoral student Ásthildur Jónsdóttir will host her exhibition "Value Archive" in Gallery Kopio from 24 November to 3 December. Ásthildur Jónsdóttir is working on a joint doctoral degree from University of Lapland and the University of Iceland looking at the potential of art in education for sustainability. Value Archive is created with participation of group of 45 women. Jónsdóttir will keep an open artist lecture on Friday 27 November from 10:45 am to 12 noon in the lecture hall 16.
The exhibit in the Gallery Kopio, shows the bookwork Value Archive (2013–15), which is made from various materials. Value Archive stems with Ásthildur Jónsdóttir's interest in memories and values. Memories shape our current behaviour and the way we perpetuate customs and traditions. Unconsciously, we classify, organize and memorialize events in our lives.
In this on-going work she has invited 45 persons to share in the creation of a book based on messages they want to pass on to future generations. The work gives a reference to the memory books that where very common in the youth of twentieth century before the days of Internet.
Participatory artwork like this departs from relationships between humans and the social context of creating art. The book-work is meant to create a space in which art can fuel our interest in those elements of our society that might be improved, and which improvement might lead to sustainability.
Jónsdóttir's role in the work is an auto-ethnographer as she is the primary subject of the research in the process of collecting visual message for future generations from the women who she sees in some way as role models as regards her values and daily activities. She has had personal connections with all the participants, but to different extents.
The bookwork consists of the messages and her text where she reflects on, based on her memory, why she believes they are worth of being a role model. The messages are different, some are general when others are more specific, but all with the aim of being of value for generations to come.
The exhibit also shows some visual critical analysis of the participants works that provide connection to theories of intrinsic values and education for sustainability.
Value Archive
Gallery Kopio
24.11.–3.12.2015
F wing, 1st floor, University of Lapland, Yliopistonkatu 8, Rovaniemi
Opening hours: Mon–Fri from 8 am to 9 pm, Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm, closen on Sundays and midweek holidays
Free of charge
Further information:
Ásthildur Björg Jónsdóttir
astajon(at)lhi.is
ULapland/Communications/RJ