Sweden. 2016

 

Postcards ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I don’t understand’.

A6 size. Uncoated paper. 200 gr. Helvetica Neue bold. 100 pc each.

 

After having lived in Sweden for some years, I began to notice how many times I spoke the words ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I don’t understand’ in my everyday life. Before daring to say these phrases in English to a Swedish speaker, there is a moment of confusion and vulnerability. I decided that it was time to send that confusion back to its source.

 

Anonymous postcards with messages of ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t understand’ are sent to institutions, authorities and people I’ve met over the course of the four years I’ve lived in Sweden: Migrationsverket, Vårcentralen, Skatteverket, SFI,... 

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The thought of someone geting the postcard and asking confused: 'What is this? I don't understand. I don't know' closes the circle of vulnerability.

 

'MVH' is the Swedish acronym for 'Med Vänliga Hälsningar', which means 'Best Regards'.