Cruelty has a Human Heart
The theme of evil examined through text, colors, stitches, and dialogue.
A collaboration with philosopher Lars Fr. H Svendsen
Concept
July 22nd Norway was exposed to terror, a young Norwegian native murdered 87 people. There was an immediate response after the attach that felt pure and authentic. We marched with roses, the expressions “more openness”, “more love” to fight terror were expressed repeatedly. After some time the response didn’t feel so authentic to me anymore, it felt more like we were “in love” with our own good reactions … I started to collect articles that scratched what I feel is a polished Norwegian surface. The process led me to the Norwegian philosopher and writer, Lars Fr. H. Svendsen, and his book The Philosophy of evil. I asked if he would be interested in collaborating with me. Cruelty Has a Human Heart began.
Through text, colors, stitches, and dialogue we examined the theme of evil. The starting point was 88 quotes on the topic gathered by Svendsen from a wide variety of sources – philosophy, religion, litterateur, politics but also criminals and victims statements. We traveled to arrange workshops, meeting people of all ages, having conversations about cruelty, while writing the quotes on painted canvas patches. Later the texts were embroidered.
Someone who sees no resemblance between himself and his enemy, who believes that all the evil is in the other and none in himself, is tragically destined to resemble his enemy. But someone who, recognizing evil in himself, discovers that he is like his enemy is truly different. By refusing to see the resemblance, we reinforce it; by admitting it we diminish it. The more I think I´m different, the more I am the same; the more I think I´m the same, the more I´m different …
— Tzvetan Todorov
Exhibition
The embroidered patches were installed in site specific installations. With help of a welder, I constructed a free standing 3 m × 6,5 m iron construction, that could be tilted. The tilt added a feeling of urgency. Imbalance. In Hå gamle Prestegard though, I installed the quotes hanging freely in the room, resembling prayer flags. The public was invited to touch, lift to read quotes partly covered. An online archive presented the authors of the quotes, name of the participants writing and embroidering the quotes. Cruelty Has a Human Heart was first shown in the constitutional anniversary exhibition 1814 Revisited.
Dialogue tour
For two years Cruelty has a Human Heart went on a “dialogue tour” to a selection of public spaces, to reach people outside the art sphere and start conversations about the topic framed by the different venue’s context. The theme was addressed through a program of conversations, talks, discussions, writing and drawing workshops.
Six public libraries
Oslo Cathedral
Moss Church
Oslo MET university
Ullersmo and Ila High Security prison
Hå asylum reception center.
The book: Cruelty has a Human Heart
The quotes and images of embroidered patches, process of making, reflections became a book. Published by Grapefruit publishing, 2014. Availabale on request to lisebjorne@mac.com
The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.
— Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)
Support
The project, its dialogue tour and book have been generously supported by Akershus Art Center, Vederlagsfondet, Stiftelsen Fritt Ord (Freedom of speech), Art Council and Ministry of Culture, Norway.
Deconocida unknown ukjent
Cruelty has a Human Heart evolved to deepen knowledge on cruelty, a theme closely related to Deconocida Unknown Ukjent where people globally stitch name tags to remember the victims of femicide.