Hamseda is a Farsi word consisting of “ham” meaning with/together/in company and “seda” meaning voice. The title Hamseda – to sing an anti-nationalist wreath for peace refers to communalities where we share voices, songs, feelings or dreams.

The performance was created by aghili/karlsson for Röda Sten Konsthall’s exhibition Mischief but is now presented for the first time outside of Gothenburg. The piece is centered around flowers, music and 20 seated sculptures, made in a style aghili/karlsson calls “queer allmoge” inspired by sloyd or Swedish peasant work and the act of including dreams and stories that have been erased by history or the political ideologies in this nationalist era.

During 3 hours, the 20 performers will sing, make a wreath and invite visitors and summer strollers to sit down and join the circle. Familiar and beloved Swedish songs meet opera, pop and folk music from different parts of the planet.

aghili/karlsson collaborates with the art collective Ful, creating a meeting place which stands in contrast to the polemic and hateful rhetoric of the election summer. Hamseda is produced in dialogue with the artists earlier work Ful’s anti-nationalist Adress To A Nation, made in collaboration with musician Sara Parkman and presented just before the Swedish electation 2022 at Ställbergs gruva.

Hamseda – to sing an anti-nationalist wreath for peace is a space for anti-nationalism and peace activism, which through memory work and performative acts enable a place for sorrow, criticism and mobilization through the arts.

Musicians: Rostam Mirlashari (Sweden/Baluchistan), Simon Sumal (Denmark), Kristina Issa (Sweden/Syria) and Ful’s trans separatist choir for peace.

Photo: Nemo Stocklassa Hinders