Tell us a little bit about the project!
“When government agencies build new premises, it is possible to apply for art from the Public Art Agency Sweden. They then appoint a consultant who is commissioned to make suggestions of artwork that would fit the new premises. In this case, the new space was so large that we got appointed two consultants. One for house two, and another one for house four. Instead of working separately with one house each, the consultants decided to work together to make sure both houses are consistent with the theme. The consultants’ names are Magnus Mattsson and Anne Pira, and they are the ones that have put together the art collection that we are now hanging up.”
What do you need to think about when hanging up art collections?
“First and foremost, the art should fit the environment but also the business and its wishes. We also need to make sure that it is representative to the university at large and not just a small group of individuals. Universities are interesting environments with many exciting happenings, and it is nice if the art can reflect that, but also if it can reflect the fact that it is a place where we dare to challenge, and sometimes even provoke.”
What is the theme of the artwork that you are hanging up at Campus Albano?
“We have had more than one theme in mind. Originally it was Anthropocene, the epoch of humans, since that is the theme of the Future Island-artwork that is being created outside at Campus Albano. This will not be something obvious that you can pinpoint, but rather it will be something quite delicately woven into the thought patterns of the artwork. Other than that, we have also worked with historic layers. Annual rings and layers of different kinds. In some of the artwork it can be seen in how the artist has worked with layers of different materials, but in other pieces of the collection it is rather about annual rings of Swedish art in history.
Do you have any personal favourites among the collection?
“I have not had time to see all of it, but there are several pieces that I think are very nice. I really like Sara Bonde Nielsen’s artwork, in which she works with different types of bark and trees. She cares for old oak trees, something that connects to Royal Djurgården and all the trees that exist there. I also enjoy a large piece of art made of charcoal by Anders Kappel, representing a boy scout who has built a fireplace, or an outdoor kitchen. For me, it directly connects to survival and vulnerability but also to charcoal as a very original material that the boy uses to keep his fireplace going. I think that is really nice.”