New House of Sweden exhibit reimagines models with Down Syndrome
WASHINGTON, DC. (DC News Now) – The Swedish Embassy unveiled their latest exhibit Saturday to change the narrative on how society views people with Down syndrome.
Icons: An Exhibition About The Right to Exist is a collection of 21 photographs reimagining Swedish models with Down syndrome as iconic figures society looks up to.
It showcases them as superheroes, a prime minister, royalty and even features a recreation of the famous Titanic scene.
Located in the House of Sweden, a cultural center founded by the embassy in 2006, the photographs are playful at first glance, but they carry a deeper message about challenging the limitations society places on people with intellectual disabilities.
While it’s only just making its way to the United States now, the exhibit was first released in Sweden in 2016 as a partnership between the Glada Hudik Theater, a Swedish theater group for people with intellectual disabilities, and the Fotografiska Museum in Stockholm.
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Since 2016, the photography exhibition has traveled to Riga, Berlin, and Seoul, on what the theater’s founder Pär Johansson has called a mission to export human rights.
“We want to share our values with the whole world,” said Johansson.
The embassy partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society to highlight the exhibit’s American debut, showcasing the work that the association has done including advising Mattel with the first Barbie doll with Down syndrome released in 2023.
The inspiration for each photograph was taken from an interview with each model featured. They narrowed down a wide pool of applicants from the casting call, and asked them about their life, dreams, and ambitions, eventually selecting 21 models to honor World Down Syndrome Day, which is March 21.
“It very much represents each of their identities and personalities and so that’s how they decided what they were going to be portrayed as, what the icon was,” said Johansson.
Ida Johansson is an actor and dancer who frequently works with the theater and is featured in the exhibit as a ballerina.
The photo represents Johansson’s longing to experience love. In the story behind the photo, Johansson first starts as a swan with a wish, a longing to be loved for who she is.
When a man comes to the lake one day, he falls deeply in love with the swan and she experiences a sensation she has never felt before. From this love, the swan becomes human.
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The most meaningful part of the experience to Johansson was the act of taking the photograph, and then seeing herself reflected in the final result.
She said she feels like herself when she sees it, but she also said it feels like a dream.
‘Is this what I look like? Is this a dream to see this photograph?’ It’s a dream come true,” said Alexandra Bro, the embassy’s press officer, acting as a translator for Johansson.
Bro said the embassy strives to spotlight thought-provoking exhibits that create conversations and engage people in dialogue around creating a better future.
The House of Sweden currently displays an exhibit on climate change, focusing on the green transition and is opening another on artificial intelligence next month.
The House of Sweden is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5.
Icons: An Exhibition on the Right to Exist is open to the public until June 30.
Where: The House of Sweden
2900 K Street N.W.
Washington DC 20007
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