Tensta Konsthall - Art in a housing estate

East of Stockholm,immediately after the notorious Rinkeby housing estate,the underground train stops at multicultural Tensta. Just like its neighbour, Tensta has attracted media attention as a scene of violent crimes and drug offences. Two years ago a centre for contemporary art, Tensta Konsthall, was established in the area. In the summer, six works from the collections of Kiasma will travel to Tensta.

“We studied the area well before establishing the art museum.Naming it Tensta Konsthall (art hall) was not a haphazard choice, but the result of lengthy consideration. We wanted to influence the conception the Tensta residents have of their living environment. We have received a lot of positive publicity and so Tensta also comes up in the news now because of contemporary art, and not just in connection with bad news ”, says Curator Celia Prado.

Prado describes Tensta as an area of 1970s typical concrete blocks, originally built because of desperate need for housing. Whatever indicators are used, the contrast with the surrounding villa area is remarkable – be it in terms of employment rate, the number of owner-occupied flats or proportion of migrants among the residents.

“I’m tired of answering questions like what makes a museum of contemporary art suitable for a problem housing estate. Local residents have not opposed the museum, which, by the way, might have happened in some more ‘fashionable’ parts of Stockholm” says Prado, and smiles.

The character of the housing estate has not affected what Tensta Konsthall has to offer. The most important aim is to produce high-quality contemporary art exhibitions. Fresh perspectives on contemporary art coupled with openness and energy are Tensta Konsthall’s assets when competing with the established art institutions in and around Stockholm.

KIASMA PAYS A VISIT

In June, Tensta residents and the Konsthall will be visited in form of an exhibition, The Village, featuring Finnish contemporary art assembled from the collections of Kiasma. “We wanted to show Stockholm what is happening right now in Finnish contemporary art and bring forth its hatred and passion; the feelings that are inherent in it.” Prado admits that the choice is slightly unconventional, since the artists in the group are unknown in Sweden.

“Contemporary art entails risk taking. We wanted to show the public how things can be done. Kiasma’s approach to collecting contemporary art is unprejudiced, and we wanted to make this known in Stockholm, too.”

Celia Prado interviewed by Piia Laita