Works of art outside the Swedish Defence University

The sculpture Hope and Despair will be installed at the entrance to the Swedish Defence University. The creator is the artist Michel Östlund. The artwork will be officially unveiled on 10 September.

Short film about the sculpture: Hope and Despair. Art in the shadow of war

The artist on the sculpture Hope & Dispair:

Every year, 800,000 miles of barbed wire are put up in the world. That's two hundred laps around the world. A significant part is to shut people out. An equal part is intended to lock people up.

Transparency is the key to human progress and democracy. The exchange of ideas, culture and goods has laid the foundation for peace and prosperity in our time. Sweden's openness is and has been an important national marker. But throughout history, eras of exchanges between societies and cultures have been constantly followed by seclusion. The consequences have been transformative. Are we back there? Right now, we live in the shadow of war with millions of people fleeing. Is vain hope the only thing we dare to count on in these tumultuous times? Or is our Swedish freedom of speech and our open democracy the salvation? Time for the next generation to make its voice heard against barbed wire and seclusion.

The artist Michel Östlund is active as a sculptor in the field of human rights with links to existential issues nationally and internationally. He interprets human rights in public contexts in stone, iron, glass and film. One of his sculptures is partially melted down weapons. Among other things, he is a goodwill ambassador for the Raoul Wallenberg Academy in the subject of art and human rights.

The sculpture has previously been exhibited outside Visby Cathedral. The Swedish Defence University's acquisition of the sculpture has been made possible through a private donation.