The artist Makode Linde believes that Afro Swedes National Association misunderstood his artwork, which he regrets.
- Given the poor selection of artists available in Sweden who would define themselves as Afro-Swedes, I had hoped that Afro Swedes' Association was a little more versed in the art that I do, he told TT.
Makode Linde is known for basing his art on racism, xenophobia and slavery. The cake, which was part of his works, was to make Western perceptions of Africa contrast the real picture of slavery and oppression.
He also stresses that the main purpose of the cake was not to depict mutilation.
Also artists riksorganiation, KRO, wondering if Afro Swedes' Association has understood the work. In a written statement, riksordförande Karin Willén writes that "those who followed Makode Linde's oeuvre knows that he is based on racism, xenophobia and slavery."
- In Sweden, we take freedom of speech for granted. But freedom of speech is something we will always have to protect and safeguard. In a free society, we must also be able to handle art that criticize, question and rub, says Karin Willén in a press release from KRO.
Zacharias Zohuir is chairman of the National Association of Afro Swedes in Stockholm.
Makode Linde claim that you have misunderstood and do not understand the purpose of his art. What's your comment on that?
- We do not comment on what artists do. They have their freedom and they will know where their boundaries lie, but we definitely think that we do not react excessively in any way, he told Svenska Dagbladet.