SPEACH CONVERSATIONS
Public Installation, Odenplan Stockholm 2003
Two speaker’s podiums were placed in the public square Odenplan in Stockholm for two weeks. The podiums were facing each other at a distance of approximately 10 meters. The public passing the square was encouraged to use the podiums.
This piece brings up issues regarding, speech, conversation and communication. By putting two speakers’ podiums facing each other the monologue speech act is put into question. Anyone using the podiums would be faced with the possibility of another person using the other podium and thus another speech act or a conversation with the other speaker. In this way the symbolic function of the podium is challenged.
The podium is a traditional symbol for power and authority. In today’s “democratic“ societies the podium is seen as an important tool to maintain “freedom of speech”. But who is speaking, about what and in what way? These are essential questions to understand the political status of any society.
Political figures or other people of power often perform the speech act. The ordinary citizen does not usually have the opportunity to speak before a public. To take space and time to express him or her in any issues they might feel important.
For the opening day other invited artists used the podium including feminist activist Johanna Rytel. A series of performances were organized where a selection of people were invited to use the podiums and talk about different issues.