Per Svensson
Curriculum Vitae
Born 1965 in Gothenburg, Sweden /
Född 1965 i Göteborg, Sverige
Lives and works in Övraby and Gothenburg, Sweden /
Bor och arbetar i Övraby and Göteborg, Sverige
Works with visual art, sound art, performance, film & architecture /
Arbetar med bildkonst, ljudkonst, performance, film & arkitektur
Education/Utbildning
1985-90 The Royal Institute of Art / The Royal University College of Fine Arts, Stockholm /
Kungl. Konsthögskolan i Stockholm
1999-00 The Royal Institute of Art / The Royal University College of Fine Arts, Dept. of Architecture, Stockholm /
Kungl. Konsthögskolans Arkitekturhögskola, Stockholm
Selected Individual Exhibitions / Separatutställningar i urval2013 The Icelandic Sculpture society in Reykjavik, mhr, ”The Forces of Nature / The Icalandic Document II”, Iceland
2013 Moderna Museet Malmö, ”Nattskift/Nightshift”, Malmö, Sweden
2011 Cité Internationale des Arts, "Bioplex Six (VI)" - Open Studio Exhibition, Paris, France
2010 Martin Bryder Gallery, "The State of the Art", Lund, Sweden
2008 Ystad Art Museum, "Intergalactic Transmission", Ystad, Sweden
2008 Tegen2, "Orange Warning", Stockholm, Sweden
2005 Tapper-Popermajer Art Gallery/Galleri Frans Suell, “The New Periodic Table Of The Elements”, Malmö, Sweden
2003 Färgfabriken, “The New Alchemy – Sound, Art & Random Noise Poetry”, Stockholm, Sweden
2003 Skövde Konsthall, ”The New Alchemy”, Skövde, Sweden
2000 The Royal Academy of fine Arts, Fredsgatan 12, ”Solar Bioplexus ”, Stockholm, Sweden
2000 Göteborg Museum of Art, ”Solar Bioplexus”, Göteborg, Sweden
1997 Galleri Mors Mössa, ”Prima Materia”, Göteborg, Sweden
1994 Konstsalongen, Malmö, Sweden
1994 Galleri Mors Mössa, Göteborg, Sweden
1991 Galleri Mors Mössa, Göteborg, Sweden
1990 Sweger Konst, Stockholm, Sweden
1990 Galleri Mejan, Stockholm, Sweden
1989 Fylkingen, "UR 1", Münchenbryggeriet, Stockholm, Sweden
1983 Galleri Hybris, Nordhemsgatan 68, Göteborg, Sweden
Selected Exhibitions / Utställningar i urval2016 ATLAS OBSCURA / PORTA ALCHEMICA, Kristianstads Konsthall 15 år, Kristianstad, Sweden
2012 SVART LJUS / BLACK LIGHT ; Works by Freddie Wadling, Leif Elggren, Annika von Hausswolff, Per Svensson,
Ulrich Hillebrand, Lotta Antonsson, Henrik Rylander, Borås Konstmuseum / Borås Museum of Modern Art 2.2.-1.4. 2012
2012 SVART LJUS / BLACK LIGHT ; Works by Freddie Wadling, Leif Elggren, Annika von Hausswolff, Per Svensson,
Ulrich Hillebrand, Lotta Antonsson, Henrik Rylander, Borås Konstmuseum / Svenska Grammofonstudion, Göteborg 6.4.-8.4. 2012
Public Commissions / Offentliga Verk
2016-2017“Soundsculptures I-II”, Galvanized Steel and iron, Public Loudspeakers, Herrängens Skola, Stockholm, Sweden
Public Commission for Stockholm Konst / The City of Stockholm/Offentligt uppdrag för Stockholm Konst /Stockholm Stad
2004 “Organic Universe / Bioplex III”, Galvanized iron, Glass, Bronze, Lights, Lunds Campus, Helsingborg , Sweden
Public Commission for The National Public Arts Council /Offentligt uppdrag för Statens Konstråd
2000-2001 “Anyone can think whatever they want”, Bronssculpure, Sceiling painting, S:t Görans Hospital Psychiatric Clinic, Stockholm
Public Commission for The Stockholm Country Council /Offentligt uppdrag för Stockholms läns Landsting
1997-98 “Art Capsule – Göteborgspaviljongen”, Wood, Concrete, Glass, Steel plates, Alma Löv Museum, Östra Ämtervik, Sweden
Public Commission for The Alma Löv Museum/Offentligt uppdrag för Alma Löv Museum
1996 “The Five Elements”, Bronze sculptures on concrete, Torsby Community, Sweden
Public Commission for The Community /Offentligt uppdrag för Stockholms läns Landsting
Selected Group Exhibitions / Grupputställningar i urval
2013 Ny Verk, Sim Residency Gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland
2013 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND, Borås Museum of Modern Art, Borås, Sweden
2012 SVART LJUS / Freddie Wadling, Leif Elggren, Annika von Hausswolff, Per Svensson, Ulrich Hillebrand,
Lotta Antonsson, Henrik Rylander, Borås Konstmuseum / Borås Museum of Modern Art, Sweden
2012 SVART LJUS / Freddie Wadling, Leif Elggren, Annika von Hausswolff, Per Svensson, Ulrich Hillebrand,
Lotta Antonsson, Henrik Rylander, Borås Konstmuseum / Svenska Grammofonstudion, Göteborg, Sweden
2011 2 in 1, Per Svensson/Maja Spasova, Titanik Gallery, Turku, Finland
2011 Per Svensson / Bioplex 6, Salon Jeune Creation, Centquatre 104, Paris
2011 Per Svensson/Leif Elggren, Inre Röster / Inner Voices, Kristianstads Konsthall / Kristianstad Center for Contemporary Art, Sweden
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, ”Eye of the Storm”, Galerie Jeune Creation, Paris, France
2009 “BOTANIC SOUNDS 2” The Palm House, Gothenburg Garden Society, Palmhuset, Trädgårdföreningen, Göteborg
(also exhibiting; Jana Winderen and BJ Nilsen)
2009 "Alt_Cph 2009", Fabrikken for Kunst og Design, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark. (in collaboration with Peter Henning)
2008 “KOLSYREFABRIKEN R.I.P 1889-2009”, Kolsyrefabriken, Liljeholmen, Stockholm,
(with Jean-Louis Huhta, Henrik Håkansson, Lotta Antonsson. Martin Sjöberg, Gunnel Pettersson, Tore Nilsson et Al.)
2005 “Nágannar” Ystads Konstmuseum, Ystad
2005 NEON Gallery, “Implosions”, Brösarp (with Henrik Rylander)
2005 "RESONANCE" - Echoing Throughout Stockholm, Beehive XI, Handelshögskolan, Stockholm
2005 ”Six Swedish Artists”, Lusaka National Museum, Zambia, Africa
2004 “SYNTAX ERROR”, ETC Galleri, Stockholm
2004 ”MULTIPLEX”, Skulpturens Hus, Stockholm
2003 ”VISUELLA FENOMEN”, Skulpturens Hus, Stockholm
2001 “SCULPTURE”, Life Gallery, Stockholm
2000 ”STARDUST”, Installation, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
1999 "Small Images of Truth", Life Gallery, Stockholm
1999 FESARS, Konstakuten, Stockholm
1999 L.A. International Biennial, Contributing KREV Consulate, Berman Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1998 Vetlanda Museum, Vetlanda
1998 Eksjö Museum, Eksjö
1998 Collaborative Works, with Leif Elggren, Henrik Rylander, Ernst Billgren, Prinsen, Stockholm
1998 The Gothenburg Pavilion, Art Capsule, Alma Löv Museum, Östra Ämtervik
1998 Göteborgspaviljongen / Art Capsule, Konstakuten, Stockholm
1997 "EAR AS EYE", LACE, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles CA, USA
1997 "SIGHT OF SOUND", Anomalous Gallery, Seattle, USA
1997 Contributing the KREV Embassy, 2nd International Biennale, Johannesburg, South Africa
1997 Contributing KREV, the conspiracy, The Soap Factory, Athens, Greece
1997 Contributing KREV, the conspiracy, FOKA, (Forum of Keen Art), Thessaloniki, Greece
1997 Contributing KREV, the conspiracy, Uppsala Konstmuseum, Uppsala
1997 Contributing KREV, the conspiracy, Bildmuseet, Umeå
1997 Konstfabriken / Artfactory Productions, with Ernst Billgren, Galleri K, Stockholm
1996 Interpol, Färgfabriken, with Ernst Billgren, Stockholm
1995 Smart Show, Art against Aids, Wasahallen, Stockholm
1994 "Naturkunden", The Academy of Art, Budapest, Hungary
1993 Galleri Engström, Stockholm Art Fair, Sollentuna, Stockholm
1993 "Naturkunden", Heliosturm, Köln, Germany
1992 Material, Stockholm Art Fair, Sollentuna, Stockholm
1991 "Reflections - Reactions", KKH / HDK / Moderna Museet, Bahnhof Westend, Berlin, Germany
1990 Konst och Datormässan, Malmö
1990 Skulptur II, Sveagalleriet, Stockholm
1989 Skulptur, Sveagalleriet, Stockholm
1988 Sub 117, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
1988 Konstakademien, Stockholm together with Leif Elggren, Kent Tankred, CM von Hausswolff
1987 3 st, Galleri Rotor, Göteborg
1987 AVE, International Audiovisual Festival, Arnhem, Holland
1987 KAM, Konst i Annan Miljö, Augustendals Bilfabrik, Stockholm
1986 Konsthögskolan, Reykjavik, Iceland
Selected Performance and Sound Art Projects / Performance och Ljudkonstprojekt i urval
2012 The Kingdom of Evol featuring Freddie Wadling live at Way out West Festival, Annedalskyrkan, Gothenburg, Sweden
2012 The Kingdom of Evol featuring Freddie Wadling live at Stockholm Music & Arts Festival, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden
2012 Per Svensson, The Forces of Nature & The Butterfly Effect, Live at Krets, Malmö
2012 The Kingdom of Evol featuring Freddie Wadling live at Borås Museum of Modern Art, Borås, Sweden
2011 Per Svensson, Heartbeat Transmission, Titanik Gallery, Turku, Finland
2011 Per Svensson/Leif Elggren/Michael Esposito/Freddie Wadling, INNER VOICES, Live at Kristianstad Center for Contemporary Art, Sweden
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, ”Eye of the Storm”, Live at irl, Centre Mercoeur, Paris, France
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, ”Eye of the Storm”, Live at Galerie Jeune Creation, Paris, France
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, ”Eye of the Storm”, Live at Planetarium, Poitiers, France
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, ”Eye of the Storm”, Live at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2011 Per Svensson & Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, Live at Le Générateur, Gentilly, France
2010 Live in Stockholm, Per Svensson, Leif Elggren, CM von Hausswolff, Kent Tankred, Live at Fylkingen, Stockholm
2010 Live at Martin Bryder Gallery, Per Svensson, Jakob Riis, Anders Lindsjö, Lund, Sweden
2009 Live at Perspectives 2009, "Perspectives Meeting", Culturen, Box 1, Västerås
2009 The New Alchemy, Live at Lygten Station, Lygten 2, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark
2009 Per Svensson + Pär Thörn vs. LIGHTS PEOPLE, Live at Motvikt #12, Skånes Konstförening, Malmö
2009 Per Svensson + Mats Gustafsson, Live at Signal, (in conjunctin w. Maja Spasova CD release for Olof Bright Records), Malmö
2008 Audio Laboratory, Live at Kolsyrefabriken R.I.P. 1889-2009, Sound Art Feast, Kolsyrefabriken, Liljeholmen, Stockholm
2008 Per Svensson, Jakob Riis, Live at Skånes Konstförening, Malmö
2008 NMNN Quartet; Per Svensson, Frank Rothkamm, Hans Tammen, Derek Morton, Live at Harvestworks Media Arts Center, New York, USA
2008 Per Svensson "NEW ALCHEMY", Film Projection+Live Performance, Live at Harvestworks Media Arts Center, New York, USA
2008 Per Svensson, Mats Gustafsson, Live at Kulturhamn 2008, Skeppet, Simrishamn
2008 Per Svensson, Frank Rothkamm, Mats Gustafsson, Live at Interface, Ystad Art Museum, Ystad
2008 Per Svensson ”Intergalactic Sound and Voice Transmission”,Live at Fylkingen 75 Years festival, Stockholm
2008 Intergalactic Sound Transmission, Live at Ystad Art Museum, Ystad
2007 Live at Färgfabriken, Leif Elggren, Per Svensson, CM von Hausswolff, Stockholm
2007 Per Svensson Live at Ljusfesten, Fylkingen, Stockholm
2007 Live at Ystads Konstmuseum, Hild Sofie Tafjord & Lemur, with Mats Gustafsson, Per Svensson, Amit Sen, Ystad
2007 Intergalactic Transmission, Per Svensson live at Ales Stenar, Kåseberga, Sweden
2007 X, Live impro at Hammenhög Church, Hammenhög, Österlen, Sweden
2007 Per Svensson with Christine Sehnaoui, Mats Gustafsson, Amit Sen, Jakob Riis, Ystad Art Museum, Ystad
2007 Per Svensson with Ulf Gertz, Live at Övraby Church, Övraby, Österlen, Sweden
2006 Per Svensson, Live at Sonoric Perspectives Festival, Ystad Art Museum, Ystad
2006 The New Alchemy, Live at Fylkingen, Stockholm
2006 The New Alchemy, Live at Full Pull Festival, Rooseum, Malmö
2006 The New Alchemy, Live at Pustervik, Slippery People, Gothenburg
2006 Per Svensson (The New Alchemy) with Johan Skugge, Live at Ugglan, Stockholm
2005 Implosions, Per Svensson & Henrik Rylander live at Neon Gallery, Brösarp, Sweden
2005 Audio Laboratory, Live at Ystads Konstmuseum, Ystad
2005 Resonance - Echoing Throughout Stockholm, Beehive XI, Handelshögskolan, Stockholm
2004 Audio Laboratory, Live at ETC Gallery, Stockholm
2004 Audio Laboratory, Live at Konserthuset in Västerås, Perspectives 2004 Festival, Västerås, Sweden
2003 Audio Laboratory, Live at Färgfabriken, Stockholm
2001 Energy Loop Super Conductor, Live at Arvika festivalen med Jean-Louis Huhta, Arvika, Sweden
2001 Per Svensson, Trans art formation, Live at Ljusfestivalen, Fylkingen, Stockholm
2000 Per Svensson, Soundart Installation, Stardust Festival, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
2000 Audio Laboratory, Live at Fylkingen, Stockholm
1999 Live at Beyond Baroque, Leif Elggren, CM von Hausswolff, Per Svensson, Los Angeles, USA
1999 En Red O, Sound & Electronic Art Symposion, Montelegre, Barcelona, Spain
1998 Energy Loop, Live at Fylkingen, Stockholm
1998 Audio Laboratory, Live at Fylkingen, Stockholm
1998 Audio Laboratory, Live a t Arvikafestivalen, Arvika, Sweden
1998 Audio Laboratory, Live at Prinsen, Stockholm
1998 Audio Laboratory, Live at the Nursery Injection festival, MS Stubnitz, Stockholm
1994 Building a House in the countryside, Lysvik, Sweden
1992 El/Element 1, Live at Multiplex festival, Fylkingen, Stockholm
1990 Electric TV, Akt-90 festival, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
1990 El/Element 1, Knogjärn-90, 3rd International Festival for Computermusic, Göteborg, Sweden
1989 Electric TV, 35 White Street, NYC, USA
1988 UR/Åska, Akt –88 festival, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden
1988 Live at Konstakademien,Högtidssalen, med Leif Elggren, Kent Tankred, CM von Hausswolff, Stockholm
1987 El/Element 1, Forsmark I-II + Kungliga Slottet, Stockholm, Sweden
1987 The Midnight Sun Fires, Abisko, Sweden
1987 Primordial Elements, Artcenter De Gele Rijder, Arnhem, The Netherlands
1986 Solar Collector, Oaxen, Stockholm, Sweden
1986 Ground Materia / Radiation, Oaxen, Stockholm, Sweden
1984 The Iceland Document, Göteborg-Seydisfjordur-Reykjavik-Göteborg
Cooperation in Performance & Soundart / Medverkan i Performance & Ljudkonst
1989 "Fast Cloud" performance by Robert Whitman, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
1989 "Mat" performance by Leif Elggren and Per Jonsson, Moderna Dansteatern, Stockholm
1987 "Light Touch" performance by Robert Whitman, Building 117, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
1987 "Nothern Dark" peformance by Robert Whitman, Teknorama, Stockholm
Publications and Records / Publikationer och Fonogram
2012 SVART LJUS / BLACK LIGHT, Freddie Wadling, Leif Elggren, Annika von Hausswolff, Per Svensson, Ulrich Hillebrand,
Lotta Antonsson, Henrik Rylander, Catalogue, Borås Konstmuseum / Borås Museum of Modern Art, Sweden
2012 The Kingdom of Evol featuring Freddie Wadling, Dark Passages * Nocturnal Incidents, CD ALBUM, Progress Productions
2012 The Kingdom of Evol featuring Freddie Wadling, 12 '' Vinyl, Heartwork Records
2012 Per Svensson, The Forces of Nature & The Butterfly Effect, CD Album, Limited Edition, Eter Records
2011 Per Svensson/Michael Esposito, The Ghosts of Ogilvie Station, Flexi, Firework Edition Records
2011 INNER VOICES, Per Svensson/Leif Elggren, Black Box with Catalogue and 7 '' Vinyl, Firework/Kristianstad Center for Contemporary Art
2011 Inner Voices, Per Svensson/Leif Elggren/ Michael Esposito, 7 '' Vinyl, Firework Edition Records
2011 EYE OF THE STORM, Per Svensson/Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, DVD Film, limited edition, Galerie Jeune Creation, Paris, France
2011 EYE OF THE STORM, Per Svensson/Duncan Nilsson Pinhas, CD Album, limited edition, Galerie Jeune Creation, Paris, France
2010 The State of the Art!, Martin Bryder Gallery, Black Box with CD, C-Prints and texts, limited edition
2009 Orange Warning, ORANGE Box with 11 drawings and a CD record, Kolsyrefabriken Records, limited edition
2008 Sonic Images, C41, namenlos #8, Namenlos Recordings
2008 Intergalactic Transmission!, BLACK BOX with Exhibition Catalogue & CD Album, Ystad Art Museum
2008 The Iceland Document (Works from 1984), Black Box with Photos, Drawings, CD, limited edition
2008 Intergalactic Transmission!, CD Album, OLOF BRIGHT RECORDS
2007 EL / Element 1, CD Album, Firework Edition Records
2007 Live In LA, Live CD, CM von Hausswolff, Per Svensson, Leif Elggren, Firework Edition Records
2007 SONOGRAM, CD Album, Retrospective, OLOF BRIGHT RECORDS
2006 Transmission #1, Compilation CD, ABSURD # Planet 0
2006 The New Alchemy – Organic Universe, CD Album, Ideal Recordings
2005 Beehive XI, 3 ¨ CDR, Gallery Edition, Kning Disk
2005 Sonically Speaking #22, Compilation CD, Sonic Music Magazine #22
2005 The New Alchemy II, Live-CD, Limited Edition, Kolsyrefabriken Records
2003 Audio Laboratory, Studio & Live - CD Album, Firework Edition Records
2003 The New Alchemy - Sound, Art & Random Noise Poetry, CD & Book, Kolsyrefabriken Records
2003 Audio Laboratory – Surround the World, DVD Film, Firework Edition Records / Video
2002 KREV 10th anniversary, 2CD Compilation, Ash International / Touch, London
2001 Symmetry 2000, Artworks and texts, Portland Press Ltd, London
2000 Transatlantic, Sound Art Project, Per Svensson and Leif Elggren, 7 ¨, Firework Edition Records
2000 Solar Bioplexus, Exhibition Catalogue, Göteborg Art Museum
1998 Energy Loop / Element II, CD-Album, Firework Edition Records
1997 Prima Materia, Exhibition Catalogue, Firework Edition
1997 Konstfabriken / Artfactory Productions, Catalogue, Firework Edition
1992 Au 197.2, (Book with 7 paintings with beeswax on paper in a cardboard box)
1989 El/Element 1, CM, Firework Edition Records
1987 The Book of Elements, The Sound of Ground Materia, Book & 7 ¨, Firework Edition/Radium 226.05 Records
Artist in Residence
2013 SIM Residency, Reykjavik, Iceland
2011 A.i.r. SUMU, Turku/Åbo, Finland
2011 A.i.r. Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
Representation in collections / Representerad
Gothenburg Museum of Art
The National Public Arts Council
Malmö Museum of Art
Skövde Museum of Art
Eksjö Museum of Art
Stockholms Läns Landsting
The Swedish Defence Departement
The Alma Löv Museum of E & U Art
The Life Gallery
Claes Nordenhake
Torsby Community
Vattenfall in Trollhättan
Bohus Landsting
Göteborgs Konstförening
Helsingborgs Kommun
Bukowskis
Grants, Schoolarships / Stipendium
2013 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, International Cultural Exchange Grant /
Konstnärsnämnden, Sveriges Bildkonstnärsfond, Stipendium för Internationellt kulturutbyte2013 Nordic Culturepoint mobility fund / Norden - mobilitetsstöd2010 L'Académie royale des Beaux-Arts, Studio Grant, Visual Art Residence, La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
2008 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, Two year working Grant /
Konstnärsnämnden, Sveriges Bildkonstnärsfond, 2 årigt Arbetsstipendium
2008 The Foundation of the Culture of the Future
Framtidens Kultur
2006 STIM/The Swedish Performimg Rights Society, Grant for Composers
STIM/Svensk Musik, Stipendium för Tonsättare
2003 The Längman Cultural Fund /
Längmanska Kulturfonden
2003 STIM/The Swedish Performimg Rights Society, Grant for Composers
STIM/Svensk Musik, Stipendium för Tonsättare
2002 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, Tone, Working Grant for Composers
Konstnärsnämnden, Ton, Arbetsstipendium för Komponister
2002 The Royal Academy of fine Arts, Sculpture Grant
Kungl. Akademien för de fria Konsterna, Skulptur
2000 The Royal Intitute of fine Arts, KU Grant / Grant for Artistic Development Work
Kungl. Konsthögskolan, KU-medel / Medel för Konstnärligt Utvecklingsarbete
1997 The Royal Academy of fine Arts, Sculpture Grant
Kungl. Akademien för de fria Konsterna, Skulptur Stipendium
1996 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, Two year working Grant /
Konstnärsnämnden, Sveriges Bildkonstnärsfond, 2 årigt Arbetsstipendium
1993 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee, One year working Grant /
Konstnärsnämnden, Sveriges Bildkonstnärsfond, 1 årigt Arbetsstipendium
1990 The Royal Academy of fine Arts, Master of fine Arts Grant /
Kungl. Akademien för de fria Konsterna, Avgångsstipendium Master
Teaching / Undervisning
2000 The Royal Institute of fine Arts, Course leader / Art teacher,
The Artistic Development Work Project; ”Art and Mobile Architecture”
Kungl. Konsthögskolan, Kursledare / Lärare, KU – Projektet; ”Konst och mobil Arkitektur ”
2004 The Royal Institute of fine Arts / Kungl. Konsthögskolan, Opponent for Student / Artist Nils Edvardsson2005 Art teacher / Österlenskolan för konst och design / Österlenskolan for Art & Design 1996 Art teacher / Kyrkeruds Folkhögskola / Kyrkeruds Folk Highschool
Selected Lectures / Föreläsningar i urval 2005 Österlenskolan för konst och design / Österlenskolan for Art & Design, Simrishamn 2001 Konstfack – University college of Arts, crafts & design, Stockholm 2000 The Royal Institute of fine Arts, Stockholm 1996 Kyrkeruds Folkhögskola / Kyrkeruds Folk Highschool, Kyrkerud 1989 Uppsala Stadsibliotek /Uppsala City Library, Uppsala -------------------------------------------------------------------- www.persvenssonsoundart.com
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On the Art of Per Svensson / Selected texts & Art reviews_______________________________________________________
*Thomas Millroth, Sydsvenskan, Art
- The fifth element
Per Svensson
The State of the Art, Martin Bryder Gallery, Lund, until 3.10
Alvin Lucier
Sferics, Scaniaparken, Malmö, until 4.10
Thomas Millroth see two current exhibitions in which all elements
contained in the same work.
In a time of rapid sensory stimuli persist with sound issues, which
connect both to ritual and religion.
How else am I perceive American Alvin Luciers installation Scaniaparken?
The crackling of dry wood, a forty-minute composition of recorded,
normally inaudible, radio waves. All of a sudden becomes the park,
sky, sea, water incredibly present and immersive.
And the new place I hear reminds me of the limitations of our senses.
There are no simple questions Lucier raises.
It is even more pronounced in Per Svensson's magnificent exhibition,
which vibrates the floor of the loops. The pulse is higher than in Lucier
and the installation is made in the burning conviction that art is a space
where poetry, sounds and ideas can be reconciled. Expressions alchemy
creates entries in the life cycle in its broadest sense.
It is a mystery-shaped with a punky BZ-aesthetics - occupy your life,
accept no leaders.
But Svensson also lets us glimpse a gentle fragrance of honey, then a
dodecahedron of beeswax is heated. This geometric body is constructed
of 12 pentagones and deemed to represent the quinta essentia, the fifth element,
quintessence, which itself ran to the other elements, earth, fire, water, air.
"Give me honey," wrote Joseph Beuys, thinking of the warm, life-giving properties.
With the same existential beliefs, Per Svensson completed his work.
Like Lucier, who turns Scaniaparken a ritual site.
In particular, he has created a modern form of embodiment, when the sparklike sounds
combined with water, sky, park - all the elements contained in the same mode.
As a viewer, it feels great to be taken so seriously.
Thomas Millroth, Author, Art critic
September 16, 2010
_______________________________________________
*Tor Billgren, Sydsvenskan, Kultur- High voltage and immence power/primitive force.
Art. Per Svensson: Intergalactic Transmission! Works 1982-2008. Ystad Art
Museum.
"The primordial droning....At the time when planet Earth was uninhabited and
empty this sound could be heard loud and clear, but today this sound is drowned
by everything else that sounds all around us. Artistically you can re-contruct,
and even find your way back to this "primordial sound" - Yes, "the whole origin
and extraction, the primordial force and immence power", and an artist that
works with this is Per Svensson. He is born 1965 in Gothenburg. As artist he was
however born on Iceland in the mid-eighties, as the curator Yrr Jonasdottir is
writing in the very nice catalogue. A presumption that make sence when you view
the plain photos from the first meetings with the solid lava stone, the geysir
and the glaciers on the island. Here is the overture to his artistic ability and
him being an artist, that later developes to what is shown at the retrospective
in Ystad; sketches and drawings of the brilliant energy solutions, the huge
wooden constructions with solar panels, loudspeakers and radiators, the rusty
and droning sculptures, and the dramatic paintings that creates a sense of that
the artist does not use a brush when he is painting, he uses high voltage...
...Exept from sound, the forces of nature and energy, the exhibition is about
the artists vulnerable position and the supervision of our society".
...With a very simple and brilliant grip he has made his film production, that
stretches back to 1986, into a comment on the contemporary surveillance climate.
The films are presented in a horisontal eight (8) shape that is the cliché image
of binoculars or telescope. We are no longer the audience, we are observers...
...With this Per Svensson also shows how to recycle art. What is 20 years old
can with a few changes become topical and of current interest.
May 26, 2008.
*Thomas Millroth, - An Art Shining With EnergyIt is all about energy, to be able to handle it, to transform sounds, sequences,
clusters into energetic vibrations. No need to underline Per Svensson´s (b.
1965) past in the Gothenburg punk-scene. You can feel it in his music, sense it
in every way he uses different sounds, how he explores tools combining them with
electric guitar, field recordings or whatever. The musical as well as non
musical sounds are transformed into sonoric spaces. When listening you move into
them as if you were exploring unknown landscapes. In spite of dramatically
changing details we feel strongly that we are in one and the same room. Even if
you get the wuthering experience of the floor disappearing under your feet, in a
poetic way you feel safe. Per Svensson´s sonoric spaces are indeed most
physical. Although often harsh and rough there is underneath this surface a very
sensual experience. I´d rather say vulnerable than raw in the way of industrial
rock. His method is to use flux and random, improvisation – and the ears to hold
it all together.
In this CD Per Svensson is looking back. It is like a retrospective show. We see
(hear) as far as 1987, i.e. twenty years. Going further back to the modern
pioneers – 90, 50 or 30 years, whatever you prefer – we find a row of disparate
lack of norms movements. The whole thing was about dismantling, crushing, and
investigating the limits. Per Svensson has passed that. For him the structures
of the music have been put together again, rejected, and replaced with new
elements. In one way he stands steady in a tradition of noise, electronica and
rock, but none of those standards are useful in the description of his art. He
comfortably moves between his experiences of noise experiment, conceptual art,
sound art, spoken word. He has no need to force any borders, he acts as if they
do not exist, and never did.
In the best sense his musical flow/flux has an agenda of its own, which gives it
liberty of action within its contemporary context.
Text on CD-Album OBCD 18,
January 2007.
*Carolina Söderholm, Kultur – Sydsvenskan, Art review
Per Svensson (born 1965) has spent his time to explore the great issues of life:
the origin of the universe, the creation of the earth, and the origin of human
existence. With geometrical sculpture, space capsules, new sound compositions
and alchemical experiments he has constructed his own theory on the connection
between humanity, nature and space, and written his own alternative creation
narrative myth…Fundamentally there is an aspect of political and environmental
consciousness, but further more clear is his pulsating vitality…in the new
exhibition painting, sculpture, installations and sound art is exposed, which
gives a wide image of his solitary and consistent art.
June 7, 2005 *Britte Montigny, Skånska Dagbladet, Art review
The Platform of art is infinite. Deep. / Gothenburg born Per Svensson…during
many years he has been bissy with research on the natural philosophical alchemy…
At the exhibition we meet installations of drawing desks and chemical
laboratories where the first batteries were made, paintings and objects with
referenses to Life and Tellus...Per Svensson has created a wide art platform. In
Media this include sound, light, drawing, painting, sculpture, objects and
installations...In Svenssons alchemy you find the fifth dimension " the space
age". With the installation "Space medication kit" - a blue shining glass
suitcase with medical equipment for the international space center. The suitcase
also carries a sign with the information "LIFE FOUND IN SPACE-WE FOUND
OURSELVES" that is closing the circle on the presumption about the universe as
the primordial well or source to everything.
June 11, 2005
*Boel Gerell, Kultur – Kvällsposten, Art review
The ordinary is Exposed / It is roaming and it is noisy at Neon Gallery in
Brösarp…The ordinary objects at Neon Gallery is loaded with poetry and sense of
humour larger than itself…
July 22, 2005
*Silvia Helperin, Kultur - Helsingborgs Dagblad/Västra Skånes Tidningar; Art
review
Man in the centre of a cosmic space – He is a visual artist, composer, makes
experiments with alchemy and “Life found in Space”, works also with film,
architecture and sound ( as he in 1988 recorded heartbeats and let them be
heard).
The inauguration of “ Organic Universe” and “Bioplex III” was held at Campus in
Helsingborg. “ Organic Universe” a construction that according to the artist
works like a cosmic tree. Five 6 m high stems made of galvanized iron reaches
out towards space. Between the root and the crown assembles 3 rings around the
stem – not unlike the image of the galaxies. 5 bronze plates established firmly
in the ground. Each plate tell its story: The New Alchemy, Geological eras, The
future, The United Nations Charters, and Big Bang. The southern part of the
courtyard is the residence of “Bioplex III”. According to the Arts Council this
is a greenhouse that looks like an igloo and has the shape of a carbon molecule.
October 29, 2004
*Håkan Nilsson, DN-Kultur, Art chronicle
”Still, Per Svensson with his battle-cry The New Alchemy, is the artist at
Skulpturens Hus that is breathing, if not belief, so - struggle…Although
Svenssons paintings stand in an established tradition of political painting,
they snort a bit of that kick ass attitude that often is absent in art,
technical or not”
February 15, 2003
*Bertil Lundgren, Skaraborgs Allehanda, Kultur, Art review
"When the artist is mixing his ideas with material, spiritual gold is
created...Per Svensson wants to show the possibilities for a creative person to
give ordinary objects new dimensions. He does this with images and his interst
for social issues, natural science and philosophy. In a serie of drawings we can
follow Per Svenssons thoughts from the form of carbon molecule to the mysteries
of the universe. A freightbox has become a beehive with autentical sound.
Per Svensson is rated one of the most interesting artists in his generation.
Born in Gothenburg 1965 and educated at the Royal Univercity College of fine
arts. He has exhibited the Art Academy and the Gothenburg museum of art.
Together with the experimental group Audio Laboratory he is showing his interest
in experimental music."
January 26, 2003
*Kerstin Waltersson, Skövde Nyheter, Art review
- Nature is the source to everthing I do…
…The artist Per Svensson has dismantled his studio and has installed it at
Skövde Konsthall”
January 23, 2003
*Petra Ljunggren, Skaraborgs Allehanda, Art review
”He is mixing the New Alchemy”
January 23, 2003
*Crispin Ahlström, Göteborgs Posten, Art review
”Alchemy that creates gold and new ideas” Per Svensson has appointed himself to
alchemist of the contemporary time. And I must admit that he has further more
success than his precursors to create gold, not as money, but as new thoughts
and ideas.
February 13, 2003
*Crispin Ahlström, Göteborgs-Posten, Art review
”Life looked upon in two different ways” During a long time he has made a
research on the necessaries of life and found that he must start with carbon and
water – without these the two elements life would be impossible. Drawings,
paintings and sculptures has developed into the exhibition “Solar Bioplexus” –
an installation that concentrate the ideas into one concept. In the centre there
is a huge greenhouse. The greenhouse is shaped like a carbon molecule with a row
of medical plants borrowed from the Gothenburg Bothanical Gardens…It is a
beautiful garden in a smaller scale and it is watered with the same drip and
fusion that gives nutrition during an operation…He is describing life from a
scientific point of view, but cannot avoid the sensibility and dedication in his art.
5 March 2000
*Johan Alfredsson, Göteborgs-Posten, “Geometry meets Life...
"The artist Per Svensson invites the viewer to enter the prime substance of life itself”
March 5, 2000
*Pontus Hammarén, Nöjesguiden, Art in Göteborg
Per Svensson’s installation at the Göteborg Art Museum starts with the fact that
all life on our planet is built from carbon and water. In abuildt up huge,
gigantic carbon molecule he has placed a greenhouse with lifegiving plants; both
eatable and medical plants. The plants are nurrished by fusion. Per Svensson has
created a sanctuary that shows the beauty of the geometry in nature. At the peak
it is all about the existence of life.
April 2000
*Fredric Bedoire, Solar Bioplexus; Exhibition Catalogue, Göteborg Museum of Art,
”Now Per Svensson breaks down the compact and dead carbon molecule and fills its
cavities with life, with green plants that are outlined against the cobalt-blue
space. The interior offers people a refuge, a lifeboat...Exiting is the meeting
between the rational and the irrational, the hard and the soft, to be a realist
and a romantic at the same time. This distinguishes Per Svensson from his
predecessors and places him in a time like our own”
March 2000
*Ida Thunberg, Nya Wärmlands - Tidningen, Chronicle and Interview (front page news)
”Consul with eternal life…- Yes we are immortal”, says Per with a smile.
July 2, 1998
*Ulrika Stare, Göteborgs-Posten, The Art is rising…
Per Svensson’s tower Art Capsule – Gothenburg Pavilion is also consulate for
KREV. Like a hybrid between Vinga lighthouse and a space capsule the two level
building is rising. During June Per Svensson himself is exhibiting, an
exhibition that is strongly related to the building itself. The tower, the
capsule and cosmos is reflected within the space that is both adventurous and genial.
June 19, 1998
*Anette Gärdeklint, Värmlands Folkblad, Art review,
On the Alma Löv Museum and The Gothenburg Pavilion…
July 2, 1998
*Ann-Charlotte Glasberg, GT, Art review,
On the Alma Löv Museum and The Gothenburg Pavilion…
Aug 4, 1998
*Per-Gunnar Kramer, GT-Kultur,
“Loaded with Energy...A collection of bronze celestial bodies floating in its
own universe...Per Svensson distinguishing quality is to unite lust of experiment with depth”,
Sept 21, 1997
*Gunilla Grahn-Hinnfors, Göteborgs - Posten “The 6th element...
In the exhibition Prima Materia you get extra aware because matter in this case is not only building material,
but also motif”
Sept 20, 1997
*Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, “Sight, Sound - Action”,
Occasionally overt musical imagery appears. Per Svensson's "Element II" consists
of white sheets in an accordion fold, and on one of them is a pencil drawing of a shape reminiscent of a CD.
...The overriding image I took away from the
gallery space was a sonic one, the loud resonance of the floor, and the
engrossing noise anyone wearing hard shoes makes on it. It is the raw sound of
looking at art (and much more exciting than the buzz-buzz that comes from
Walkman gallery guides in big museum shows), the sound one notices thanks to art
that makes one think about listening rather than looking. Maybe the real value
of such work is that the less it appears to be related to music, the more the
ear wants to manufacture some.
BE THERE
"(ear as eye)," Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, 6522 Hollywood Blvd.
March 20, 1997
*Josephine Carr, Aftonbladet – Puls,
“Per Svensson and Ernst Billgren’s Artfactory Production.
Catalogue texts by Jan Håfström and Christer Fuglesang.
No 4 on Aftonbladets top 10 list”
March 21, 1997
*Christer Bergqvist, NWT
24 hour Art - The bronze sculptures in Torsby symbolize the five elements;
earth, air, fire, water and the ether…
Sept 30, 1996
*Clemens Altgård, Sydsvenskan, Art review
“Myths and Geometry”
Per Svensson is, so to speak, taking his startpoint from a work named “The 5th
Element. In Chinese myths this is another name for metal, and with this a direct
connection to alchemy…also in connection to various esoteric imaginary…myths and
spheres of rock music, where you find self destructive rock stars. There is a
fascinating synthesis between different mythological systems, and a work like
“Metallic Knockout I-X” appears in the light when you know that the title also
is the name of a recording from the legendary The Stooges’s last and chaotic
concert. A unique wilful contrast appears between the geometrical
sculpture-objects cold and exalted order and the titles that lead the thoughts
too a Dionysian show with sex, violence and broken glass as components…It will
be very interesting to follow his wilful, obstinate, headstrong, artistic
ability and developement. With Per Svensson’s works there is really a connection
between structures from the past and highly increased sensibility on the current
hectic and contemporary structures.
June 11, 1994
*Rolf Hallin, Arbetet, Art Chronicle, Interview
Per Svensson född 1965, göteborgare (Majorna) har sin första separatutställning
på Mors Mössa i Haga.…Per Svensson visar svetsade skulpturer och målningar med
andlig energi”
February 23, 1991
*Lars O Ericsson, Dagens Nyheter
Overreacted Contrasts – L. O. E. sees 5 current exhibitions; Richard Long, Einar
Höste, Alf Linder, Ulf Rollof, Per Svensson.
… At Sweger Konst he is showing a combination of sculpture and painting…there is
also within these objects a tension between the metallic cold and the
colouristic nerve that is capable of development and progress…
October 17, 1990
www.persvenssonsoundart.com