Hedda Gabler Bored on Holiday

Hedda Gabler is a play by Henrik Ibsen where the title character builds a frustration strongly connected to gender roles in the late 19th century Norway. Even though the play ends in a tragic catastrophe worth exploring in itself, this artistic project turns towards an event preceding the timeline of the play, namely Hedda’s honeymoon where she was bored and annoyed at her new husband for six months without telling this to him in any ways.

But the bored Hedda is possibly a very unhappy one whose unhappiness becomes unnoticed. His husband did not notice her unhappiness, but instead of judging him, we might ask ourselves:

Do we notice the unhappiness of our close contacts?

This installation, therefore, focuses on those close to us, and was made for household member, friends, beloved ones, etc. to watch together with two mobile phones.

This multiscreen video installation includes the video of Hedda Gabler on the train, as well as a compilation of videos from friends living all around the world (in order of appearance): Bernadett Csontos, José Vincente Gualy Blanco, Daniela Achury Rincón, Sheree Nicholson and Gábor Patkós. The sound files were narrated by Sheree Nicholson and Bernadett Csontos.

How to access the installation?

1. Make coffee for a close contact.

2. Turn on the sound on your mobile devices. Scan the two QR-codes with one of the phones each. You need Instagram to access the videos.

3. Lean your phones against your coffee cups.

Enjoy! :)