Anna Odell’s work inaugurated at BMC

“This is unique – both the work itself and the fact that it is now permanently installed at BMC in this format,” stated the day’s moderator, Erika Sigvardsdotter, coordinator at the Centre for Medical Humanities, during the inauguration.

She was referring to the work Rekonstruktion – Psyket by artist Anna Odell, which has, as of a few days ago, been permanently installed at BMC. The inauguration featured not only the artist herself, but also representatives from all the collaborators involved in making the installation possible. In addition, a large number of interested attendees had found their way to Öbrinkrummet at BMC.

The inauguration itself took the form of a panel discussion between Anna Odell, Pontus Aspenström, Director of BMC; Ylva Söderfeldt, Director of the Centre for Medical Humanities; Henrik Orrje, Director of the Public Art Agency Sweden; and Marcus Rancken, Strategic property developer at Akademiska Hus.

“BMC is a perfect setting”

The process that led to Anna Odell’s video work finding a home at BMC began when the Public Art Agency Sweden decided to acquire the piece.

“We acquire art for public spaces, and this truly stood out. I went to see the work at an exhibition earlier, without any expectations, and was genuinely moved. There was a strength in this simultaneously complex and universally relatable story. We then felt that the work would suit an environment focused on education, and BMC seemed like the ideal setting,” said Henrik Orrje, Director of the Public Art Agency Sweden.

He contacted Pontus Aspenström, Director of BMC, who was initially somewhat surprised.

“Yes, I was rather taken aback when the idea of an installation at BMC was brought up,” he recounted. “But I too had seen the work and been touched by it, and I recognised the importance of how it reflects the relationship between caregiver and patient. The more I considered it, the more BMC felt like a relevant place for it. We already have physical representations of what it means to be human displayed at BMC. With this work, we now complement that with the psychological dimension.”

Anna Odell: “Overwhelmed”

During the inauguration, Anna Odell spoke about the process behind Rekonstruktion – Psyket – how it all began and how it has now led to this day, with the work installed in a meeting booth adjacent to the reception area at BMC.

“From the start, I felt I wanted to conduct research into my own experiences within psychiatry, and how those working in the field at the time related to the situation that arose when I had a relationship with one of the caregivers. It later developed into research on how a psychiatric care team reasons and speaks among themselves about ethical dilemmas and difficult questions,” she explained.

The process surrounding the video work is one of the reasons it is well-suited to the environment it has now found as a permanent home, according to Ylva Söderfeldt, Director of the Centre for Medical Humanities.

“When we issued the call for our artist-in-residence, the idea from the outset was to invite an artist to create a work in their own right – something not directly tied to our own research, which is the more common approach. But the entirety of Anna’s process and the creation of Rekonstruktion – Psyket closely mirrors how research is conducted, and it has been fascinating to follow,” she said.

With the work now installed and officially opened, a pleased Anna Odell took part in the inauguration.

“There were such kind words from everyone involved here today, and I feel overwhelmed. It has been a long journey with this work, and it is truly an honour that it will now have a permanent place here,” she said.

Open to all

As previously mentioned, Rekonstruktion – Psyket has been installed in a so-called meeting booth, fitted with screens for video display and a sofa for viewers. It has been placed near the reception to ensure accessibility for students and staff at BMC. During office hours, the work is also available to the general public.

Robin Widing