Installation (2008) Photographs Gouache paintings Text written as captions directly on the wall

The installation Eyewitness Accounts is a “letter” to a Danish painter, Hugo Larsen (1875-1950). At the beginning of the 20th century, it was hotly debated whether Denmark should sell the islands to the US. In 1902, Hugo Larsen was sent to the Virgin Islands to paint life in the colonies in order to raise Danish awareness of the islands. When Hugo Larsen returned in 1905, it had been decided to sell the islands, so not only had public interest for the subject of his paintings vanished, Larsen’s painting style was now also considered outdated. By contrasting my research at the US Virgin Islands with the works of Hugo Larsen, the project addresses the artist's role in the construction of history.

The installation “Eyewitness Accounts” combines a series of drawings with documentation of Hugo Larsens work. The images are presented side by side with a text written directly on the wall as captions below the images.