African Swedes demand minister to leave

Ouch, wrong move Minister of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.  

  • Minister of Culture, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.

  • African Swedes demand minister to leave
    Ouch, wrong move Minister of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth. The Minister was invited to talk on the World Art Day at Moderna Museet in Stockholm, the theme being freedom of art and the right to provoke, and there was a cake party with a cake featuring a caricature of a naked black woman. The piece of cake cut out for Adelsohn Liljeroth was the part of the sculpture’s genitals, which she ate. The installation was meant to put light on the problem of female circumcision. As a white woman, Liljeroth represented an important part of the installation as she cut the cake. The installation was documented and after photos were put up on BUS’ (Bildkonst Upphovsrätt or Visual Arts Copyright Society in Sweden) Facebook page, reactions have been very strong.
    Afrosvenskarnas Riksförbund (the African Swedish National Association) is of the opinion Liljeroth’s actions ought to lead to her dismissal.
    “To participate in a racist manifestation masked as art is clearly crossing the line and can only be interpreted as the Minister of Culture supports the Moderna Museet’s racist prank or that she has a poor judgment when it comes to racist issues. Either way, the Afro Swedes no longer trust her as Minister of Culture and demand that she takes responsibility and resigns," Kitimbwa Sabuni, Secretary General of the Afrosvenskarnas Riksförbund wrote.
    Liljeroth defends her behavior and calls the situation “bizarre”. “I understand very well that this is provoking,” she said. “And it was a very bizarre situation.” The cake's artist Makode Linde says Afrosvenskaras Riksförbund has misunderstood his artwork, which he is sorry about. “Knowing how poor the selection available in Sweden of artists who can define themselves as Afro Swedes, I had hoped Afrosvenskarnas Riksförbund were more familiar with the kind of art I deal in,” he said. Linde is known for using racism as the starting point of his art, especially xenophobia and slavery.

  • Minister of Culture, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth cutting a cake made to look like a naked black woman led to strong reactions in Sweden. Photo from fb page BUS - Bildkonst Upphovsrätt i Sverige. Artist: Makode LInde

  • See all photos from World Day at Moderna Museet: BUS - Bildkonst Upphovsrätt i Sverige: