Trump's Walls of Shame at Roskilde festival

While we wait at home crossing fingers for this coronavirus nightmare to pass soon, let's go back in time to one of my favorite festivals. It's no wonder that being massive public gatherings, the festivals are the perfect opportunity to make a public statement to the world through their festival programs. Activism has been a fundamental part of Roskilde festival program since the very beginnings in 1971. From youth rebellion to women’s rights, the Danish festival has taken responsibility to support those who dare to act and to have the courage to make a change.

Despite the physical distance with America, for the festival edition of 2018 Roskilde installed next to the main and iconic Orange stage a huge installation of the walls that Donald Trump was planning to build along the border with Mexico to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States. So when the festival goers entered the festival site, they were confronted with these massive replicas (10x6m) of the wall prototypes in an attempt to boost debate and reflection in combination with Roskilde Festival's general focus on equality.

Signe Brink Wehl, Head of Roskilde Festival's Arts & Activism program, said about the installation: "The art at Roskilde Festival is about inspiring and perhaps even provoking a debate and conversation about art and what's going on in the world around us. President Trump's walls are both highly aesthetic and frightening. They're relevant on a global scale, both politically and symbolically, making them obvious inclusions at Roskilde Festival where art and activism go hand in hand. They will both disrupt and engage the festival-goers, and we hope they will encourage debates and conversations about the globalized world."

If no changes are announced, Roskilde festival will take place as planned from June 27th to July 4th. Check Roskilde´s official website to learn more.

Cover photograph by Krists Luhaers