Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg

Nathalie Djurberg is one of Sweden’s most internationally sought after artists. She is continuously working on new projects together with her partner Hans Berg, who makes all the music that accompanies her pieces. The relationship between humans, animals and forces of nature is the constant, vibrant theme that occupies their shared universe. Stop motion animations using clay figures, spatial installations and sculptures form the foundation of their work. In their world the viewer comes face-to-face with instances that many would try to avoid: that which is ugly, difficult to explain and offensive. But what makes Djurberg’s art bearable is the humorous undertone that runs through the exaggerations and the excesses. The work has shocked, fascinated and surprised the entire art world. Yet their intention has never been to provoke, rather by mixing darkness and humour they want to examine suppressed feelings of shame and fear by calling attention to things that are heavy and difficult, having the courage to feel, and by discussing tough issues such as violence, disgust, desire and taboos. This is their driving force.

Last summer the largest solo exhibition to date of Djurberg and Berg’s animations, sculptures and music, ‘En resa genom träsk och förvirring med små glimtar av luft’, was shown at Moderna Museet in Stockholm. Over the last decade they have had a strong presence on the international art scene, previously exhibiting at the Venice Biennale, The New Museum in New York and the 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum in Shanghai as well as at the Lisson Gallery in London, Zach Feuer Gallery in New York and with Gió Marconi in Milan.