Nurturing your identity in a new country

Joel Cole was born in Minnesota, USA, in 1968 and first visited the Faroes in 1986 as an exchange student.

He subsequently visited the islands on a regular basis. He became a full-time resident here in 2011 and is now a prominent figure on the Faroese art scene.

Joel portrays his deep understanding of the challenges and experiences of immigrants in the Faroes through his organic artworks primarily made of wood.

His new exhibition, titled “Identity”, opened on Friday at the ‘Listasavnið’ national art gallery in Tórshavn and will run until 13 December.

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“As an American living in the Faroes, the question of identity has been of great interest to me for many years,” he explains.

“I have studied the concept of identity quite intensely, and this has been the inspiration behind my new collection of artworks which I’m excited to show to the Faroese public.”

Joel likes to combine materials that are not usually put together, for example wood and stone, wood and iron, wood and glass, etc.

“This is an exciting process for me, both metaphorically and logistically, as it opens up many possibilities for me to make an artistic portrayal of an identity, a personality or a human being,” he says.

“I find it fascinating to transform a multitude of small fragments into a mosaic.”

Toward new conceptions of identity

Through his art, Joel wants to inspire new questions about people’s conceptions of identity.

“These days, it can be difficult to have a profound conversation about identity because people tend to distance themselves from each other,” he explains.

“In the political realm, in our social interactions – and especially on social media – there is a distinct lack of a diplomatic, pleasant and tolerant language. We are after all humans, each and every one of us, regardless of what we believe is right or wrong. We need to find a method of discourse in which we can talk about these things in a diplomatic way without resorting to derogatory and judgmental remarks.”

A Faroese American

He goes on to explain how being born and bred in the US and now having lived in the Faroes for many years has shaped his identity.

“My American roots will always be a part of me. Having lived in the beautiful Faroes has also had a profound effect on me. But my identity is a separate element. I no longer feel like an American, and I will never feel entirely Faroese. I feel happy about how I’ve become a synthesis of my American and Faroese heritage.”

Integration vs assimilation

Joel feels that many Faroese people expect immigrants to blend in properly and become ‘one of them’.

“Obviously, learning the Faroese language is important. But when immigrants are also expected to eat the same food, engage in the same activities and behave like Faroese people, then we are moving away from the realm of integration into assimilation,” he explains.

“Instead, I would like to see a more collaborative approach in which the country receives immigrants with perhaps a bit more of a flexible and open-minded approach. And then, if the immigrants adopt a similarly flexible and open-minded approach, we’d see a healthier environment for immigrants to cultivate their authentic identity in harmony with their new country.”

Joel lives in Saltnes, Eysturoy, with his Faroese wife and their five children.

Read more about the exhibition, including a transcript of the speech given at Friday’s exhibition opening, here.

Joel Cole goes into more detail about identity, in fluent Faroese, in this radio interview.

English version by prosa.fo.

More Faroese News in English.