Email: trusta@prio.org
Mobile phone: +47 48 15 28 90
My current research focuses on the role of artists and artistic expressions after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. I am interested in how artists are responding to the coup and how the coup has affected their artistic practice. Currently I am exploring the ways in which artists are engaging in a form of everyday resistance through their work.
News
Friday, 25 Jun 2021
In societies at war or facing severe repression, what motivates individuals to take action for social justice when doing so involves great risk and uncertainty? How do such small but often heroic everyday acts of common people inspire larger transformations? And what is the impact of storytelling about everyday acts that challenge inequalities and injustices in places like Myanmar, Somaliland and Syria?
The TRANSFORM research team has grappled with these questions for four years, and you will find some answers in this online exhibition.
News
Monday, 14 Jun 2021
On June 3rd 2021, the INSPIRE research platform was launched with a live performance by Faytinga and a presentation of artwork by Diala Brisly. The research platform can be explored at inspire.gallery
I am a Doctoral Researcher at PRIO and the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. My PhD is part of the project Inspirational creative practice: The work of artists after war and violent conflict (INSPIRE) at PRIO. Please visit the INSPIRE website to learn more about the project.
I hold a master’s degree in cultural and community psychology from the University of Oslo. In my MA thesis I explored why people protest in contexts known for violent suppression and imprisonment of protesters, specifically focusing on student activists in Myanmar protesting against the enactment of a new education law in 2015. My MA thesis was part of the PRIO project Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts (TRANSFORM).
I have previously worked as a Research Assistant for the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict and on various research projects at PRIO including: Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts, Social Media in Armed Conflict: The Case of Myanmar and Active Citizenship in Culturally and Religiously Diverse Societies.
Journal Article in Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology
Master Thesis
Please be invited and save the dates for the INSPIRE seminar series autumn 2021! The seminars will take place monthly, on Wednesdays from 12:00-13:00 CET, online, with invited researchers and artists.
In societies at war or facing severe repression, what motivates individuals to take action for social justice when doing so involves great risk and uncertainty? How do such small but often heroic everyday acts of common people inspire larger transformations? And what is the impact of storytelling about everyday acts that challenge inequalities and injustices in places like Myanmar, Somaliland and Syria?
The TRANSFORM research team has grappled with these questions for four years, and you will find some answers in this online exhibition.
On June 3rd 2021, the INSPIRE research platform was launched with a live performance by Faytinga and a presentation of artwork by Diala Brisly. The research platform can be explored at inspire.gallery
Next Tuesday December 8th at 14.00 CET (Oslo time) we will have the PRIO Annual Peace Address, this time with young peacebuilders Hajer Sharief and Ilwad Elman.
On this occasion we wanted to highlight projects and research that focus on youth activism. We're sharing our work on young engagement in political change, because social movements that turn into positive societal transformation are not only initiated by people in power, but very often are initiated or inspired by youth trying to improve their communities. Here are some of the projects showing the importance of youth in peacebuilding.
On October 5-6th a workshop on creative methods was held for the INSPIRE project. The goal was to discuss creative approaches to study inspiration and social justice. Workshop participants were INSPIRE team researchers; Katarzyna Grabska, Cindy Horst, Marte Nilsen, Trude Stapnes and Sara Christophersen as well as invited artists and academics; Anna Konik (visual artist and advisory board member for the INSPIRE project), George Mahashe (artist, photographer, academic and advisory board member for the INSPIRE project), Solveig Korum (Senior Advisor at Kulturtanken and advisory board member for the INSPIRE project), Cathy Wilcock (musician and academic) and Marisa Cornejo (visual artist).
On September 15th the INSPIRE advisory board and INSPIRE researchers had their first meeting. Due to corona virus restrictions the meeting was held online.
From January 22-23, 2020 a kick-off workshop was held for the INSPIRE project. The kick-off marked the formal start of the INSPIRE project.
On 6 February, PRIO and the Goethe-Institut hosted a four-hour participatory workshop with a small group of invited cultural practitioners and academics.
The workshop was set-up to facilitate in-depth exchange and co-creation of knowledge between academics and cultural practitioners focusing on themes like privilege, dominant narratives and attempts to 'decolonize' institutions and practices. Participants represented institutions like the University of Oslo, OsloMet, University of Agder, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PRIO and Oslo National Academy of the Arts, as well as various museums, art institutions and institutions working with film, music and literature.
Through individual reflection, shared explorations and creative group exercises, participants explored collective societal narratives, institutional roles, as well as individual potentialities. The workshop provided a space for cultural practitioners and academics to engage with and learn from each other. Plans for common future initiatives were made.