In search of magic – Constitution of the Republic of Iceland
Long term transdisciplinar and collective project merging art and activism to promote the implementation of the new Constitution of the Republic of Iceland.
Initiator(s)
Libia Castro, Olafur Olafsson & The Magic Team
Description
In 2008, Libia Castro and Ólafur Ólafsson joined the movement to rewrite Iceland’s constitution through a participatory democratic process. A 25-member assembly, elected to reflect the country’s diversity, drafted a new constitution through open public consultation, including social networks.
As part of this process, the artists created the musical performance “Constitution of the Republic of Iceland,” turning the 81 articles of the still-active colonial constitution into a song performed by multiple musicians, voices and styles, collectively known as the Magic Team.
In 2011, the work was performed live again and broadcasted twice on national prime-time television, while also remaining available online for several days.
The broadcast coincided with the first meetings of the elected Constitutional Assembly, tasked with drafting the new constitution.
Goals
• Revisit Iceland’s current constitution and make its text more accessible through art.
• Support citizens and activists working to replace the outdated “colonial” constitution.
• Demand implementation of the new constitution approved in the 2012 national referendum.
• Leverage the magic, energy, resources, and agency of art to support this civic struggle and commemorate this democratic civic process.
Beneficial outcomes
The broadcast in 2011 on national TV of the “Constitution of the Republic of Iceland”, performed again life at Hafnarborg Cultural Centre in Hafnarfjörður, and recorded in collaboration with RÚV (The National Broadcasting Service) reopened and expanded the debate around the constitution, making accessible its outdated and colonial text. It encouraged broad participation in the crowdsourced constitutional process.
Since then, multiple public discussions, actions, interventions, exhibitions, and activist protests have used and reactivated the project and its artistic tools to push the debate, champion the new constitution and supporting the campaigns involved.
Location
Iceland
Field
Activism, Civic Action, Decolonization
Strategy
UIT (Use it together), Extraterritorial reciprocity
Users
Constitutional Association, Women's Association for New Constitution, OBÍ - The Icelandic Disability Alliance, Grasrótarhópur Landverndar í loftslagsmálum (Grassroot Group of Landvernd (Nature Protection) in Climate Matters), Refugee groups, Efling trade-union, Gagnsæi: Samtök gegn spillingu/ Transparency: Anti-Corruption Organization and Jæja, The Magic Team writing the music together and the musicians are: Aqqalu Berthelsen, aka Uyarakq (GR), Viktor Orri (IS), Áki Ásgeirsson (IS), Danielle Dahl (NO), Karólína Eiríksdóttir (IS), Þórunn Gréta Sigurðardóttir (IS), Stellan Veloce (IT), Tyler Friedman (USA), Countess Malaise (IS/PH), Hörður Torfa (IS), Lay Low (IS/LK), Kvæðamannafélagið Iðunn (traditional rhyme collective) and The Handbell Choir of Valgerður ́s Music Chamber.
Maintained by
Castro & Ólafsson, activist and civic organizations, RÚV (The National Broadcasting Service), Hafnarborg Cultural Centre and other art institutions involved in the different stages-actions of the project.
Duration
2008 - ongoing
Category
Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social
