Application deadline: March 10, 2016
Preliminary budget for the realisation of the memorial: EUR 400,000
On December 26, 2004, Southeast Asia suffered one of the greatest natural disasters in history, killing a quarter of a million people. With 543 dead and some 1,500 wounded among the victims, this was a great tragedy to Sweden.
In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the disaster, the Swedish government has decided to create a memorial site in Sweden to honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and to create a place where their relatives and friends can gather.
The memorial will be located on the southern side of Djurgården, in a beautiful parkland area close to central Stockholm. Rather than a monument, the competition is aimed to generate proposals for a designed space for contemplation, memory and celebration of the people who died. The artwork shall provide a setting that surrounds visitors in close dialogue with the landscape.
The memory of a catastrophe holds a complexity of emotions, ranging from grief to light-hearted remembrances of our loved ones. The artistic design should allow for this wide range of emotions, with openness and the potential for personal interpretations.
Reflecting the shared loss caused by the catastrophe, the memorial will also honour bonds across national borders.
The competition is organised by the Public Art Agency Sweden and the National Property Board Sweden. The first step is a call for entries, where five competitors will be chosen. Entries are accepted from individual artists, artist groups or artists collaborating with landscape architects. Entries must be submitted no later than March 10, 2016.
Background information for entries can be downloaded from: statenskonstrad.se/en
