Syden

Breaking traditional notions of territory, Syden (meaning 'South' in all scandinavian languages) is an artificially created holiday-land, a mental and physical space where conditions exist or are created to project a series of desires and new bonds. It applies unlimitedly for warm, sunny, southern countries. Syden is a utopian land that functions as a parallel universe, ruled by own rules, routines and rhythms, displaying its own identity and aesthetics. Visual artists Hedvig Biong and Pablo Castilla develop a multimedia installation with musician and sound designer Niko Hafkenscheid on the theme of tourism and authenticity. Syden is a work on the boundaries of documentary photography, sound and sociology. The project investigates the ideas of the artificial versus the authentic, as a case study for how humans relate to the idea of a utopia that constantly shifts in space and time.