Home and Fatherland (Hem och fosterland) – Sebastian Lindberg

Visual artist Sebastian Lindberg (born 1978) completed his final project at the Academy of Fine Arts in 2006. Since graduating, he has primarily worked with video, and his works have been displayed in solo and group exhibitions, as well as at video and film festivals and on television. His videos have ranged in form from narrative short films to more visual video installations.

His most recent solo exhibition was “Kansalainen – Medborgare” at Galleria Huuto in 2010. In this exhibition, he addressed issues such as citizenship, Finnish identity, and especially the Finnish relationship with violence, as well as violence as a culturally determined phenomenon. Lindberg continues this exploration in his exhibition “Home and Fatherland” at Poriginal, which features his new video work of the same title.

The video work is based on interviews with Ann-Mari Lindberg (born 1935). Ann-Mari Lindberg is the artist’s aunt and a writer by profession. She has published an autobiographical trilogy, which includes Kraschen (Collapse) (Söderströms/Kirjayhtymä 1996), Chansen (Opportunity) (Söderströms/Tammi 1998), and Revanschen (Compensation) (Söderströms 2000/Tammi 2002).

The exhibition’s video piece tells the story of Ann-Mari Lindberg’s experiences during the war. Sebastian Lindberg writes:

“Home and Fatherland” tells microhistory through small details that illuminate larger historical events. For example, the outbreak of war is discussed through the story of how the grandfather bought gas masks for the whole family and how the grandmother sewed snow suits for the children. The alliance with Nazi Germany during the Continuation War is mentioned as Ann-Mari describes the militaristic upbringing she received at the German School in Helsinki, which she attended until 1944. The hostility with the Russians is reflected through the way the prisoners of war on the grandfather’s farm caused Ann-Mari to change her view of the Russians, and how it became difficult for her to see them simply as enemies.

The microhistorical, fragmented approach and narrative method also serve as a means to avoid glorifying wartime experiences—and thereby the glorification of war itself.

In addition to family photos, the piece also includes segments from the Finnish Defense Forces’ newsreels published during the wars.

Simultaneously, a group exhibition titled “No Tricks” is being held at Muu Gallery in Helsinki, where Sebastian Lindberg is participating along with seven other artists (5–28 August 2011).

Thanks to the supporters: The production of Home and Fatherland has been supported by: Avek / Media Art. The exhibition has been supported by: Svenska Kulturfonden, Uudenmaan Rahasto, Svenska Kulturfonden i Björneborg, Oskar Öflundin Säätiö.

This text was created with AI assistance.