EVERYBODY IS / ALLA ÄR
Växjö Art Site, Växjö, Sweden
Medium Patinated bronze, oak.
Description
The commission for Växjö Art Site was framed by the concept of the free word. My point of departure was my own family, shaped by multiple languages, backgrounds, and lived experiences. Communication around our shared table takes place in Danish, Swedish, English, Russian, and Thai, with close connections to people and places far beyond Sweden.
The work reflects the necessity of language for participation, belonging, and self-expression. When verbal communication fails, the body takes over. In this project, figures communicate through gesture rather than speech, with the hands becoming central carriers of meaning.
The sculptures are modeled at a reduced scale, amplifying the surrounding landscape. Placed on a massive oak trunk at the outlet between two lakes, the figures look out across the water. One figure steps further, positioned on a stone in the lake itself. The site has become a valued meeting place and destination.
The realization involved collaboration across disciplines, including choreography, 3D scanning, bronze casting, and material sourcing. The installation was carried out in dialogue with Växjö Municipality.