Image: Pirje Mykknen

JACOB DAHLGREN

On Balance is the second exhibition, following on from Kaarina Kaikkonen’s highly successful exhibition The Blue Route, in our European-funded cross-border collaboration project Out of the Blue: Woad.

Out of the Blue, led by the City of Amiens, is a project bringing together six organisations in Brighton and Amiens for a diverse programme of exhibitions, contemporary design and fashion, learning and ecological events.

On Balance forms part of one of the major strands of the project, which examines the notion of caritas. Caritas is a Latin word sometimes translated as “charity” or “altruism”. It is considered a sacred concept in many religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism and refers to love for humanity, self esteem, love for family and care for the environment. Fabrica and the Musée de Picardie are exploring this theme in tangent; examining the relationship of the individual and the state in France, taking the newly restored Lady Godiva painting as a starting point within their collection. And at Fabrica exploring altruism as a philosophical and ethical idea, how it impacts on our civic sense and duty of care towards the environment.

Artist bio

Based in Stockholm, Jacob Dahlgren originally trained as an abstract painter. Much of his current practice is concerned with making three-dimensional works using quantities of cheaply manufactured goods such as clothes hangers, yogurt cups, dartboards or packets of dried food, in ways that create a powerful visual impact.

Jacob Dahlgren has exhibited widely across Europe and North America. Amongst others he has shown at KIASMA, Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki (2013, 2011, 2010), Henry Art Gallery, Seattle (2010, 2013), Collective Gallery, Edinburgh (2013), Galleri Andréhn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm (2013, 2009), Galerie Anhava, Helsinki (2013, 2009, 2002), Gallery 400 at University of Illinois at Chicago (2012), Workplace Gallery, Gateshead (2012, 2011), Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona (2010), Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2011), Daimler Art Collection, Berlin (2010), Bielefelder Kunstverein (2009), Momentum, Galleri F 15 Moss (2009), 52nd Venice Biennale (2007), PS1 Contemporary Art Centre/MoMA, New York (2007), Kunsthalle, Budapest (2006), October Salon, Belgrade (2006), Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2006), Malmo Konsthalle (2005), Tramway, Glasgow (2002).

“He (Dahlgren) strips his chosen objects of their functional properties and brings out their aesthetic aspects”. Timo Valjakka

Jacob is represented by Galleri Andréhn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki and Workplace Gallery, Gateshead.