Artist statement, Robert Johansson
Most of my works revolves around different states of control in correlation with slump and ephemerality. The threads of investigation are processed and witnessed through do-it-yourself practices, individual stories and humour.
I have made several works that refer to fitness culture. By exploring the social status and stamina of the body, the works reveal the gap that traditionally separates culture and man as a natural creature. I choose to work with a variety of media, such as drawing, sculpture, photography and performance.
For the past years I have played investigated and played with the notion of drawing. Either as in the site-specific work Eli et al in Stavanger (NO) 2008 or as in the larger pyrographic project Fly, shown at the Drawing Art Association in Oslo (NO) 2009. The projects are constellations of correlated themes, between dreams, memories, virtualities and realities. Those approaches has been developed in the commission In situ, at Våler junior high school in Norway. The title is Latin, meaning in the place. It is used in many different contexts, e.g. art, archeology, architecture, medicine, law and space sciences. Key words for the commission are support, roots and challenge.
Together with Jan Hakon Erichsen I have a series of exhibitions coming up in 2009-2010, in Tromsø, Molde, Trondheim (NO) and Copenhagen (DK). These shows will be part of a series of installations made up by site-specific wall and tape drawings, sculptures, photos and videos. The dream of returning to primary values and the frustration in the impossibility within that wish, will set the backdrop for the aggressive works.
Currently I am taking part taking in the group show Taking Down Heaven at the fantastic Alma Löv Museum in the Swedish countryside. My work there has its starting point in a bastardous offbreed from the Norse mythological horse Sleipnir. Since the installation is in a glass house, it will grow into a djungle during summer.
Previous shows includes the Nos fables at SP Gallery in Stockholm (SE), 3rd Beijing International Art Biennale (CH), Sweet Punch: Recent Nordic Video (NZ) and ARS 06 at Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki (FI).