Selshamurinn

Hvaða áhrif hafa menning, listir og landflutningar á þróun sjálfsmyndar og aðlögun einstaklinga í nýju heimalandi? Í lokaverkefninu Selshamnum eru áhrifin könnuð. Haft var samband við Söguhring kvenna, samstarfsverkefni Borgarbókasafns Reykjavíkur og Samtaka kvenna af erlendum uppruna og sjálfboðaliða leitað innan hans. Tíu konur, frá níu mismunandi þjóðlöndum og fjórum heimsálfum, buðu fram krafta sína með þátttöku. Eigindleg rannsókn á viðfangsefninu fór fram, annars vegar með viðtölum og spurningalistum, og hins vegar með ljósmyndaverkefni sem lagt var fyrir þátttakendur. Í verkefninu var gerð tilraun til að beita gagnrýnni kennslufræði innan rýmis sem ekki tilheyrir opinberu menntakerfi, og þar sem hlutverkum leiðbeinanda og þátttakenda var snúið á hvolf. Útkoman var 227 ljósmyndir sem birta myndræn gögn úr lífi og umhverfi þátttakenda. Tvær ljósmyndasýningar þar sem allar myndirnar voru sýndar voru settar upp í opinberum rýmum. Samhliða þeim voru haldnir viðburðir þar sem þátttakendur og aðrir gestir gátu hist og tjáð sig um verkefnið, sýningarnar og upplifun sína af landflutningum og aðlögun. Þriðja sýning verkefnisin, Hermikráka, var hluti af samsýningu. Á hana voru nokkrar ljósmyndir kvennanna valdar auk eftirmynda sem leiðbeinandi tók. Þar var gerð tilraun til að nálgast viðfangsefnið á sjónrænan hátt, með því að stíga í spor þátttakenda í Selshamnum og taka ljósmyndir af sama efni, frá sama sjónarhorni og þeir. Mikilvægi ljósmynda sem tjáningarmiðils og ferlis í sjálfsmyndarsköpun er miðpunktur verkefnisins og höfuðáhersla var lögð á að skoða og greina ljósmyndir þátttakenda. Niðurstöður sýndu að búseta erlendis getur haft mikil áhrif á viðhorf og sjálfsmynd. Búseta í nýju landi getur hvatt til aukinnar menningar-­ og þjóðfélagsþátttöku og jafnframt að slík þátttaka sé þess verð, því hún dýpki skilning á umhverfinu og auðveldi aðlögun að nýju heimalandi.What is the influence of art, culture and immigration on the development of the self-­image and for individuals adapting to a new home-­country? In the final project The Seal Pelt, these influences are studied. Contact was made with the Women’s Story Circle, a group organized by Reykjavík City Library and an intercultural organization for women. Volunteers were found within the group. Ten women from nine different countries and four continents gave their help by taking part. The subject was studied in a qualitative research. Firstly through questionnaires and interviews conducted with participants. Secondly through a photo project which they took part in. The project was designed within a space that stands outside official educational institutions. An experiment was made to work with critical pedagogy within the project, and reverse the roles of instructor and participant. The outcome of the photo-­project was 227 photographs; those show visual images from the lives and surroundings of the participants. Two exhibitions were held in public spaces, showing all of the photographs. Events were held in conjunction to the exhibitions, where participants and other guests could discuss the project, the exhibitions and their experience of immigration and adapting to a new home-­land. Within a group show the third exhibition of the project, Copycat was shown. Chosen photographic images by the women taking part, and copies made by the instructor were exhibited. An experiment was made to to get closer to the to the subject in a visual way, stepping into the shoes of participants in The Seal Pelt, by taking photographs of the same scene, from the same viewpoint as they did. The importance of photographs in researching the development of self-­image and as a medium for expression took precedent. The emphasis was on studying and analyzing the participants’ photographs. The conclusion of the research shows that living in a foreign country, has a profound effect on attitudes and self-­image. Such immigration can encourage increased participation in matters of culture and society. It also shows that such participation is worthwhile as it deepens understanding of surroundings and eases adaption to new home country