Experimental heritage - public interpretation project between art and research
Through this audience-oriented communicative project between art and science, we intend to further develop Experimental Heritage and its recent methodological and practical approaches tested in a recently ended research project performed during 2016–18. The aim is public communication through art and archeology in the landscape and also in texts and photos on Öland and in Kivik. The plan is to expand the project s method and implementation internationally in collaboration with established contacts we have with two different groups of archaeologists and artists operating in Ireland / The Burren and the Netherlands / Maastricht.
Final report
Experimental Heritage – Public interpretation project between art and research
The purpose and development of the project
The purpose of the project was to develop a public-oriented interpretation and communication project at the intersection of art and research through the concept of Experimental Heritage and its methodological and practical approaches that had been developed in a previous project (2016-18). The goal was a joint public presentation through art and archaeology in the landscape and also public text and photo/sketch presentations in local contexts at museums and other institutions on Öland and in Kivik. In a second step, the plan was to expand the project's methods and implementation internationally, in collaboration with two different groups of archaeologists and artists active in Ireland and the Netherlands.
The project was carried out during the period 1 March to 30 September 2019 and involved two local groups of artists and archaeologists in Öland and in Kivik in south-eastern Skåne, and two international groups of archaeologists and artists from Ireland and the Netherlands respectively. Preparatory seminars were held in Öland, in Kivik and in Ireland during the spring and early summer of 2019, and the joint explorations led to interpretations in the landscape, public seminars and exhibitions at local museums and venues in Öland, in Kivik and on Ireland. In addition, the group from the Netherlands presented their ongoing projects in connection with their visit to Sweden in September 2019.
About implementation and how the goals were reached
The largest and most important landscape-related activity was the creation of a performance, Moving the Ship, led by archaeologist and composer Hans Gurstad-Nilsson together with Irish artist and dancer Maria Kerin and with participants from Experimental Heritage and a network of art and heritage interested public on Öland and in Ireland. The performance took place in Öland and Ireland during spring and summer 2019, and it resulted in a film. In addition, two interpretation and communication projects were carried out in Kivik, linked to well-known local cultural heritage: the eel and eel fishing as well as an oral tradition around the brook horse. Local Kivik artists Echi Åberg and Elisabeth Malmström participated in works that are displayed in the landscape in the form of a bench in steel and sculptures in concrete and iron.
Another film, Messages in the Wind, was produced by artist Bodil Magnusson, and the film project was a continuation of her involvement in the archaeological heritage site Sandbyborg on Öland, where the artist herself lives and works. Her interpretation and communication project took place in close collaboration with archaeologists and with the musician Saga Björling.
All the design projects were carried out together with archaeologists and/or historians and also in meetings with the public, who contributed with their stories and experiences. A series of public seminars with presentations and films were conducted during an intensive week in September 2019, and the project also had visits and active participation from both Ireland and the Netherlands. The seminars were conducted in Kivik, Kalmar and Öland and parts of the events are published in a report (Hermansson & Petersson eds. 2020). In addition, the results of the communication project were presented also in Ireland, where a similar presentation of films and an exhibition took place, and a public seminar was held in the town of Lisdoonvarna.
Parallel to the ongoing interpretation and communication work in Sweden, Öland and Kivik, another project was carried out in a sub-project also in Ireland, the Dowsing for Eels performance project by the artist and dancer Maria Kerin together with the archaeologist and musician Danny Burke. Presentation of this Irish project and a presentation of the film took place in Sweden (Kivik and Öland) and in Ireland (Lisdoonvarna).
Experience and lessons learned
Working in this way with public landscape events, seminars and exhibitions, as well as film documentation and subsequent film screening at local museums provides many contacts with groups who live and work in local communities. The approach also provides inspiration for future collaborations. We got in touch with several local culture groups in both Sweden and Ireland who would like to collaborate with our research project Experimental Heritage in the future (Petersson & Burke in press 2020). Among other things, we have started a collaboration with the music and film group Eldmörja on Öland to make a film that links the island and the Irish landscapes. Our international contacts and networks with both Ireland and the Netherlands will lead to new research collaborations and also future communication projects at the intersection of art and research in Sweden and internationally. The most important result is the positive effect of external presentation and communication in research of this kind, which is conducted in close collaboration with the surrounding community. We have made many important contacts for future work with local communities.
The purpose and development of the project
The purpose of the project was to develop a public-oriented interpretation and communication project at the intersection of art and research through the concept of Experimental Heritage and its methodological and practical approaches that had been developed in a previous project (2016-18). The goal was a joint public presentation through art and archaeology in the landscape and also public text and photo/sketch presentations in local contexts at museums and other institutions on Öland and in Kivik. In a second step, the plan was to expand the project's methods and implementation internationally, in collaboration with two different groups of archaeologists and artists active in Ireland and the Netherlands.
The project was carried out during the period 1 March to 30 September 2019 and involved two local groups of artists and archaeologists in Öland and in Kivik in south-eastern Skåne, and two international groups of archaeologists and artists from Ireland and the Netherlands respectively. Preparatory seminars were held in Öland, in Kivik and in Ireland during the spring and early summer of 2019, and the joint explorations led to interpretations in the landscape, public seminars and exhibitions at local museums and venues in Öland, in Kivik and on Ireland. In addition, the group from the Netherlands presented their ongoing projects in connection with their visit to Sweden in September 2019.
About implementation and how the goals were reached
The largest and most important landscape-related activity was the creation of a performance, Moving the Ship, led by archaeologist and composer Hans Gurstad-Nilsson together with Irish artist and dancer Maria Kerin and with participants from Experimental Heritage and a network of art and heritage interested public on Öland and in Ireland. The performance took place in Öland and Ireland during spring and summer 2019, and it resulted in a film. In addition, two interpretation and communication projects were carried out in Kivik, linked to well-known local cultural heritage: the eel and eel fishing as well as an oral tradition around the brook horse. Local Kivik artists Echi Åberg and Elisabeth Malmström participated in works that are displayed in the landscape in the form of a bench in steel and sculptures in concrete and iron.
Another film, Messages in the Wind, was produced by artist Bodil Magnusson, and the film project was a continuation of her involvement in the archaeological heritage site Sandbyborg on Öland, where the artist herself lives and works. Her interpretation and communication project took place in close collaboration with archaeologists and with the musician Saga Björling.
All the design projects were carried out together with archaeologists and/or historians and also in meetings with the public, who contributed with their stories and experiences. A series of public seminars with presentations and films were conducted during an intensive week in September 2019, and the project also had visits and active participation from both Ireland and the Netherlands. The seminars were conducted in Kivik, Kalmar and Öland and parts of the events are published in a report (Hermansson & Petersson eds. 2020). In addition, the results of the communication project were presented also in Ireland, where a similar presentation of films and an exhibition took place, and a public seminar was held in the town of Lisdoonvarna.
Parallel to the ongoing interpretation and communication work in Sweden, Öland and Kivik, another project was carried out in a sub-project also in Ireland, the Dowsing for Eels performance project by the artist and dancer Maria Kerin together with the archaeologist and musician Danny Burke. Presentation of this Irish project and a presentation of the film took place in Sweden (Kivik and Öland) and in Ireland (Lisdoonvarna).
Experience and lessons learned
Working in this way with public landscape events, seminars and exhibitions, as well as film documentation and subsequent film screening at local museums provides many contacts with groups who live and work in local communities. The approach also provides inspiration for future collaborations. We got in touch with several local culture groups in both Sweden and Ireland who would like to collaborate with our research project Experimental Heritage in the future (Petersson & Burke in press 2020). Among other things, we have started a collaboration with the music and film group Eldmörja on Öland to make a film that links the island and the Irish landscapes. Our international contacts and networks with both Ireland and the Netherlands will lead to new research collaborations and also future communication projects at the intersection of art and research in Sweden and internationally. The most important result is the positive effect of external presentation and communication in research of this kind, which is conducted in close collaboration with the surrounding community. We have made many important contacts for future work with local communities.