After a summer session in Stockholm and a Study Tour in Venice, Ruth looks back on what she learned abroad: her rose, bud, and thorn. She shares highlights from her Session 2 course, Curating Today: Artists, Exhibitions, and Audiences, the bittersweet goodbyes to new friends, and how Stockholm reminds her of home.

I can’t believe that Session 2 is already coming to an end.

Although I knew it would feel somewhat shorter because of the study tour, I am in disbelief that I will have to say goodbye to my wonderful friends, wrap up my final assignment, and mentally prepare myself for the upcoming (and final) session with DIS. In these past three weeks, I saw and learned so much that I don’t even know where to begin. But because I declared I would follow a system – rose, bud, and thorn – I will continue to do so, but I truly have so many roses.

Rose

For Session 2, I was taking Curating Today: Artists, Exhibitions, Audiences, where I learned about the role of an art curator and better understood the curatorial process of different art scenes across Stockholm and Venice (where my study tour took place!). This course made me realize how interdisciplinary and multifaceted the art world is – various people from different backgrounds, opinions, and ideas contribute to the cultural sector, and it was so interesting to discuss how variety, as well as technology and representation, adds to society through art.

My Study Tour was centered around the Venice Biennale, which is essentially the World Cup, but for art. This year’s exhibition was called Minor Keys by Koyo Kouh, touching on themes of connectivity, the idea of a collective, and conflict. We began exploring the Giardini, which has 30 pavilions in total, including the Central Pavilion. Each pavilion, from Brazil to Egypt, is an art gallery, but the Biennale extends beyond the garden, including the Arsenale and throughout the city of Venice. In total, there are 100 countries represented, and it was absolutely amazing to engage with and view contemporary art in historic palazzos, observing how art and architecture are in dialogue with one another across time and varying contexts. It is so hard to choose only one favourite pavilion because each one made me think, feel, and learn something new, but I think the Venice pavilion, Persistent Notes, will always stand out to me. The way it connected geography – Venice’s waterscape features – to a collective history and all of the “notes” that comprise it, it was very meaningful and touching. After learning about the role of a curator and the audience, it felt even more impactful, deepening my understanding and appreciation of all that goes into the creation of an exhibition and the artworks chosen.

Aside from the several exhibits we saw, I also explored Venice with friends, admiring Venetian Renaissance art and architecture. One of my favorite moments during the trip was at the Scuola Di San Rocco, where a ballet performance was taking place. Above and beside me were the great works of Tintoretto, and classical music echoed throughout the halls. I was just in awe; in that moment, my passions – architecture, art, music, and dance – surrounded me in a single space, and I felt so inspired and happy. I knew that studying abroad was going to be this immersive experience like no other, and actually feeling that was a wish come true. And of course, since we were in Italy, we took a cooking class and made pasta and tiramisu. I absolutely love to cook, so this class was everything and more. 

Thorn

I have come to realize that the best things in life tend to be bittersweet – I have had an amazing three weeks with new friends and have taken so much away from my course’s lectures and field trips to museums and galleries; I never want this time to end. There is so much to be grateful for, and I am endlessly thankful for all of the experiences I have had so far with DIS. Not a day goes by that I am not visiting an art exhibit or getting closer to some of the kindest and coolest people ever. When I am reminded that our time together is limited, I try to focus on the positive and remind myself how lucky I am to be here with these people, experiencing these moments together.

With studying abroad, there is no doubt that there are a number of challenges, and finding your place and feeling present is one of them. In Copenhagen, I was creating an entirely new routine from scratch, adjusting to a different way of life. I understood that I would be doing the same in Stockholm, but it felt easier, as I had already been abroad for almost a month. Now that Session 2 is coming to a close and I have to say goodbye to the majority of my friends, it is hard to come to terms with, but I know I will stay in touch and think about the memories we have made together in this short but special time. When I find myself in a funk, I go outside and just start walking. As a student in New York, I am used to walking everywhere, so during my walks to DIS, I always take in the view of Gamla Stan, the water, and its surroundings. Being abroad, I am usually always on the go, trying to pack as much as I can into my schedule, but I have been trying to slow down recently. I want to take in as much as I can while I’m here, as I truly am so lucky and grateful to be in this wonderful city and learn and grow with my peers. 

Bud

Given that these past three weeks have been incredible, I am so excited to be in Stockholm for three more weeks. I know I am here in June and July, when many people are on vacation, so the city feels quieter, but I still see people gathering and creating community everywhere: from cafés for fika to people playing games or picnicking in the many parks Stockholm offers. I see these moments of connection throughout the city, making it feel so lively, which feels familiar, close to home – New York. I never thought I would find another city that I love so much, and it didn’t take very long for me to realize how special Stockholm is; its mix of inspiring art, rich history, and calming nature creates a kind of city that I see myself in in the future.

So, as I prepare to enjoy the next three weeks to the fullest, I know that my time in Stockholm will extend beyond this summer.