Conceptual and Universal

Dan Wolgers is one of the few Scandinavian artists that I only have good things to say about. He is, quite simply, brilliant in everything he does. He is conceptual in the purest sense of the word, but unlike many other conceptual artists, he has never been caught in time. His art develops constantly and he is always right on target, speaking a language that is both time specific and universal.

In the 1980s (I believe it was 1981, but I’m not completely sure…) he exhibited a tarnished wooden box with an electric switch. When pressed the switch opened the lid of the box just enough to let a small arm reach out and turn the switch off, and the box closed again. The system shuts itself down. This was still early in his career, but shows the level of intelligence and simplicity in his art.

From that point he has only gotten better. He once stole two sofas from Liljevalchs Art Exhibit and auctioned them out as works of art. He was consequently convicted for theft, and then sold the verdict too. One of his projects consisted in hiring a commercial advertising agency to do his exhibit for him. When hired to make the cover of the phone directory he put his own phone number there.

At the Market Art Fair last weekend his newest piece consisting of human bones rested on diamonds was exhibited. As I wrote on Friday night I wasn’t able to visit the fair, but in the case of Wolgers’ art that simply isn’t necessary. I don’t have to see the bones in real life to understand what he is trying to say about eternity and the shortness of the human lifespan.

That is very much the essence of what makes Dan Wolgers more than just a good artist. His concepts are crystal clear (unless, of course, when he wants them to be ambiguous, but that’s beside the point I’m trying to make here…). You don’t have to “be there” to experience his art, since most of it – sometimes all of it – takes place in your mind.