A class of high school students at H20 swapped their pens with screwdrivers and their classroom with the schoolyard to curate and install the light installation THE LIFE TO COME by Pontus Lindvall and Goro Tronsmo. This winter placemaking activity aims at creating light during the dark winter months in Oslo.

The artist Goro Tronsmo and the actor Paal Herman Ims lead the creative process and gave the students an introduction to how to use screwdrivers. They, together with Adam Curtis, Helene Gallis, Idil Akdos, and Clara Reich from Nabolagshager, mentored teams of students in how to build the wooden structure to support the letters forming the light installation.

credit: Julie Hrnčířová

credit: Julie Hrnčířová

It was the first time for many of the youth to use a screwdriver and to build something with wood. The students shared that gaining a new skill and experience was very valuable for them. During a reflection round they added that collaborating in teams and actively working towards a goal were memories they are going to remember.

credit: Julie Hrnčířová

The art installation lights up a dark corner of the schoolyard and gives joy and light to students and passers-by during these dark months. It's a winter placemaking approach based on co-creation and combines a collaboration among artists, students, and Nabolagshager's placemaking professionals. (Clara Reich project manager)

credit: Julie Hrnčířová

The artist Goro Tronsmo highlights that the art installation is especially relevant during the current Covid-19 pandemic as it raises the question of how the life to come will look like. She added that is also an important question for the high school students as they think about their plans for the future.
During an art inspiration workshop Paal Herman Ims, and Goro Tronsmo invited the students to reflect on art ranging from light art to more conceptual art.

credit: Nabolagshager

Elisabeth Mortensen Wiik the Norwegian teacher of the class explained that providing the students with opportunities to learn about art inside and outside the classroom is a great possibility for the young people to learn. Department head for Norwegian, English and foreign languages Joachim Wold stressed that it is nice to see the light installation in the schoolyard and that students get the opportunity to work practically and theoretically with the artwork.

The art installation is part of the PlaceCity project in Oslo that is funded by the Norwegian Research Council through the JPI Urban Europe framework. Nabolagshager also received money from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Bomiljøtilskudd Grønland og Tøyen to work towards their goal of creating cities that are more green and social.

credit: Julie Hrnčířová

At the end of the day all people enjoyed some hot choclate and lunch and agreed that the light installation contributes to a better schoolyard.