SIMKA: “FÅFÄNGAN/VANITY” – Performance/ Walking Act

Tidsflanörerna (Time Strollers), Stockholm, 25 October 2020

“We built a wandering wall with Wallrite’s material as a surface layer, in motion, in the interface between new and old. Where the audience can participate by drawing – erasing – telling every now and then – such as the movement between countries, memories, meetings and change.”

“To manifest our ability to overabundance. Malmgårdens owners in the middle of the 18th century wanted to show their greatness by building a park on barren land at the top of the hill. The site of the former defence facility, Skans. In a similar way, we want to create a design based on a white sheet/ whiteboard that is currently produced in Malmgårdens main building. A modern material and concept that offers the opportunity for idea-based communication. In the past, the site Tegelviken was a shipyard environment that created physical opportunities for communication over the sea. Today, the port consists of a terminal for goods and necessary travel between countries but also as a port for giant cruise ships for travels for enjoyment. The ships reach the height of” Fåfängan” and have a similar function of manifestation. Vanity manifested in modern times.

Tucked between these giants, the landscaped Fåfängan with bowers and plantations as well as giant cruise ships, the building of Malmgården is like a relic from the past. It is a hub for culture and communication, and houses activities that are cultural. Studios for actors, the Palestine group, photographers, music, and the production of Wallrite (whiteboards). 

We got in touch with Maria Olsson and Staffan Sahlen who run the company Wallrite and they showed great interest in opening up the site for our project. We in Simka also became interested in the material Wallrite which offers the opportunity to be able to tell a story and erase… transform etc.

The house’s history as an old ore farm opened up an interesting connection to the site’s industrial heritage and Fåfängan Park, which was laid out by the house’s owner Fredrik Lundin in the 18th century, took on a new meaning for us.

This also opened the history of the now completed Tegelviken for us. Tegelviken which in the 16th century was a brickyard and during the 17th century became Tjärhov for Beck production (which was later moved to Beckholmen). After that, the bay was Stockholm’s big shipyard for 200 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, Londonviadukten was built and the shipyard, which had about 1,000 employees, ceased to exist.

We built a wandering wall with Wallrite’s material as a surface layer, in motion, in the interface between new and old. Where the audience can participate by drawing – erasing – telling every now and then – such as the movement between countries, memories, meetings and change.”