NEWS It was the love for the place, the buildings and the international atmosphere that tempted. Since 1 January 2016, Professor Swetlana Heger-Davis is the new rector of Umeå Academy of Fine Arts.
Credit: Mattias Pettersson
Swetlana Heger-Davis has, over the past 20 years, been living and working with art exhibits and education worldwide. Four years ago, she began searching for a new challenge – in a place where she had never been before.
“When I visited Umeå Arts Campus for the first time, I was immediately convinced that it was an inspiring workplace. I love the modern buildings by Henning Larsen Architects and the international appearance of the entire area,” she says.
“The diversity and the different backgrounds of the students and teachers who are here are also very important, because visual arts always involves international context.”
Swetlana Heger-Davis recounts how she grew up in former Czechoslovakia where critical thinking was suppressed and people were not allowed to be active in the public life of the community. Early on in her life, she had an interest in art, literature, film, travel and culture in general, and she was, therefore, aware of the immense value of freedom of expression. In the mid-1980s, her family fled the country through the former Yugoslavia to Austria.
“When we were granted political asylum, I could continue my studies. I started studying painting and drawing at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Since then, I have exhibited internationally and spent several years in other countries, such as Japan, the US and Germany.”
“This constant ‘nomad life’ and meetings with many different people was, and still is, very inspiring for my teaching and my own artistic work,” she continues.
When asked what her visions are for Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, she mentions the importance of Umeå being recognised as an international location for relevant artistic production and research. A place where networks are built to support art students and artists – and especially female artists after they have completed their education. It should be an environment where the creation of new ‘hybrid forms’ of collaborations take place, providing opportunities for the production of art and artistic research.
Swetlana Heger-Davis believes that many communities of today lack a good higher education in contemporary culture.
“Most people can name Picasso, Renoir, etc. but hardly anyone knows of a contemporary artists or dancers. There is also another misconception that artists quite are often subjected to; people tend to think that anyone could be an artist. I would like to make it clear that art is not a ‘hobby’, but a profession, and that contemporary artists should be treated as professional practitioners.”
“We’re a part of the international market and public debate just like everyone else. We exhibit, publish, conduct research, hold lectures on an international arena, and contribute with our ideas to democracy. Art can be seen as an autonomous place where critical and sometimes provocative and visionary thinking is an important part of the visual expressions,” concludes Swetlana Heger-Davis.
In 2012, Swetlana Heger-Davis was appointed Professor of Fine Arts at Umeå University.
Editor: Per Melander