Market Art Fair partners with one of the world’s most impactful organisations to raise essential funds
In a time of growing challenges to democracy and human rights we are proud to partner with Human Rights Watch to highlight the transformative force of art in creating a more just world.
What benefits democracy also benefits the art scene. Market Art Fair’s Director, Sara Berner Bengtsson, believes that a strong democracy is essential for a strong art community, and thus the fight for democracy is inherently a fight for the arts.
This year, Market Art Fair is proud to partner with Human Rights Watch, one of the world’s most impactful organisations, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues. Human Rights Watch has a long history of collaborating with artists, curators, cultural figures, and galleries to utilise creative mediums in support of the human rights movement.
“The artists and organisations we collaborate with share our values of equality, human rights, and humanity, yet they have different approaches to conveying their messages. Our tools include reports, political advocacy, media communication, and more, while the artists engage in a completely different manner. They connect with diverse target groups and delve deeper into individuals’ emotions, allowing them to grasp the severity of exclusion and other issues we address,” says Måns Molander, Nordic Director of Human Rights Watch.
“The artists and organisations we collaborate with share our values of equality, human rights, and humanity, yet they have different approaches to conveying their messages.”
Sara Berner Bengtsson believes that art has the ability to function as a barometer for civilisation – by documenting, reflecting, and raising awareness of humanity’s critical challenges. She also emphasises that values such as equality, freedom of expression, sustainability, and democracy are deeply rooted in Nordic principles. And as Market Art Fair serves as an arena that brings together artists and their communities, with decision-makers and those in power, the fair has a unique ability to serve as a platform for creating awareness on these issues.
“In a world where these values have become politically sensitive and even controversial, we must raise our voices to protect them. Our ambition is for Market Art Fair to be seen as a space for conversation, offering opportunities for dialogue and congregation for those seeking art that speaks to the challenges and aspirations of our time,” she says.
“Our ambition is for Market Art Fair to be seen as a space for conversation, offering opportunities for dialogue and congregation for those seeking art that speaks to the challenges and aspirations of our time”
One artwork by an artist represented by a participating gallerist has been selected for a special display at the fair and will be auctioned. The proceeds from the winning bid will be donated entirely to Human Rights Watch’s efforts to promote democracy and human rights. The selected piece is titled Ripe Moons and is created by artist Aki Turunen, represented by the Berlin-based gallery Schwarz Contemporary. The work playfully explores medieval manuscripts through two pictorial motifs: moons and dragons.
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Photo by Jussi Tiainen, Courtesy SCHWARZ CONTEMPORARY, Berlin -
Aki Turunen. Photo by Matteo Parrotto, courtesy of Schwarz Contemporary -
Courtesy of SCHWARZ CONTEMPORARY
“I flirt with the painterly concept of presenting an oxymoron by making an orange resemble a moon and vice versa. The envisioned orange grove consists of trees that produce half-moons, crescent moons, and full moons. All phases of the month can be experienced simultaneously. The image of the dragon prompts us to reminisce about our animal instincts, subconscious fears, and historical roots. The dragon defies a clear taxonomic classification between an imaginative invention and a real creature,” says Turunen.
Both the artist and the gallery are pleased to contribute to the initiative, as Turunen explains:
“Defending and improving human rights, whether through internationally ratified treaties, national constitutions, or national legislation, are at risk in these times. Many international aid organizations have faced or are facing substantial cuts in their funding. As an artist, I want to signal the importance of ongoing, proactive funding that helps to defend an equitable life: for example, girls’ access to education and minority rights. Artistic freedom and human rights cannot be separated; they lie intertwined in the ability to express oneself in whatever feels compelling, to exhibit works of art without censorship, and for the public to be literate before them.”
“Artistic freedom and human rights cannot be separated; they lie intertwined in the ability to express oneself in whatever feels compelling, to exhibit works of art without censorship, and for the public to be literate before them.”
According to Måns Molander, there is an urgent need to raise questions about democracy in fields that may not be the most obvious and expected.
“It’s about standing up for free voices, and creating spaces for creativity, criticism, and contemplation. Many of the rules, foundations, and values we have taken for granted are being challenged and threatened. In today’s polarized world, we need voices advocating for our shared humanity to collaboratively build a free society. Everyone has a role–politicians, business leaders, and organizations like ours. Art serves as a vital platform for raising these issues and conveying important messages,” says Molander.
On 17 May at 12.00 Måns Molander and Sara Berner Bengtsson will host a talk about art’s role in a democratic society. The talk takes place in the talks room in Liljevalchs+ and is included in the fair ticket.