February 13, 10.00-16.00, 2023: Introduction of Julie Edel Hardenberg: “Born into colonial power structures – decolonising my mind.” Location: Media School.
March 27-31, 10-16: Seminar with Julie Edel Hardenberg
Julie Edel Hardenberg (b. 1971) was born and raised in Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat/Greenland. She studied art in Finland, Norway, and England before gaining her MA in Art Theory and Communication at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
For the past 25 years, she has worked with identity and (post-) colonial perspectives as an overall theme. With roots in Nordic and Inuit cultures, she has an insight into different Inuit-Kalaallit/Greenlander’s identities and self-understanding. At the same time, her work explores the economic and social interdependencies between Denmark and Greenland and their impact on Greenlanders, caught in a shared identity between power and powerlessness.
Hardenberg has produced five books besides international exhibitions, recognitions, and public tasks. Her work has been honorary appointed or nominated by: Nordic Council Literature Prize; Danish Association of Book Craft; Vest Nordic Childrens Literature Prize; White Raven Book – International Youth Library; Liviafond Prize; Carnegie Art Award; Anna Norlander Priset, Henry Heerup Hæderslegat.
Julie is based in Copenhagen where she recently has acquired the Novo Nordisk Foundations Mads Øvlisen Ph.D. scholarship:
In my PhD project “Between power and powerlessness- the de / colonized mind ” I will examine the colonial memories and experiences that exist among the population in Greenland. With previous artistic studies of the Danish colonial history’s political influence in Greenland, I will in my project turn the focus on what I call the de / colonized mind, exposed to crucial political and cultural influence from Denmark.
The project’s hypothesis is that when you are born and raised in a society that is built with colonial structures and thought patterns, it is not always that you as a citizen are aware of your own contribution to reproducing the colonial system. Therefore, the project aims to examine the more invisible aspects of the colonial structures and shed light on the impact it has on the citizens / society: How do descendants of colonialism carry the colonial heritage with them? What are the processes you take on when you want to fit in or stand out?
Seminar: “During a 5-day seminar/workshop, I will present the students to my various artistic research methods and how this process has led to a decolonization of my mind. The students will be expected to try out some of my methods, throughout these 5 days.”