MejanTalk

A conversation group at the Royal Institute of Art twice a week for 4 years. The notes were compiled into 4 books. MejanTalk is a conversation forum that students, teachers, staff and professors (as well as people active outside the Royal Institute of Art, that is, Mejan) could visit at lunchtime twice a week over four years. The number of visitors varied from one person to fifteen participants (with an average of five to seven). At each meeting — 189 in all — a more or less topical but always relevant subject was discussed. The topics were decided from incoming suggestions and are therefore of the most varied kinds. Adolf Hitler's drawings, sexuality, transference, death and marketing are a few of the points that were aired. MejanTalk years 1, 2, 3 and 4 consist of the notes taken during MejanTalk and the invitations that announced these meetings. The handwritten invitations that open each chapter of the books are obviously meant to give notice of an upcoming meeting and its theme. Beyond that, the simple invitations strive to create and foreshadow, at an early stage, a playful, unpretentious and anti-hierarchical atmosphere. The invitations were placed in a clearly visible spot on the counter of the school café — as the frequent coffee stains testify. During the meetings Jens Evaldsson took notes and drew in order to remember the conversations that took place. Sometimes other participants drew or wrote on the sheets. Some subjects lack notes, because they were lost or because the author had no wish or opportunity to take them. The opinions recorded have, as far as possible, been kept anonymous. In most cases it is not the author's personal opinions or thoughts that are expressed (though the documentation is nonetheless subjective, since the author chose what to record). The intention of MejanTalk was that participants would get to know one another and learn from one another (on the premise that every person possesses unique knowledge). MejanTalk was also meant to be an occasion to practise — together — formulating thoughts about and conversing on (among other things) art. Moreover, this conversation forum served as an appeal for people to engage, to take part (which becomes a powerful undermining of the classical image of the artist as the genius sufficient unto himself). Furthermore, MejanTalk acted as an institution that was, to a high degree, critical of the institution it actually sits within — namely Mejan. Whether these notes are art is left to the reader to decide. One thing, however, can be stated: MejanTalk has been a not insignificant institution within the institution (or: an education within the education). The artist Jens Evaldsson (b. 1975) created MejanTalk during his second year as a student at the Royal Institute of Art and has since served as MejanTalk's administrator and host. He is also the author of the invitations and notes that make up the books in question.