Formes Ouvertes: Exhibition Walkthrough

‘Formes Ouvertes’ presents nearly thirty years of work by painter and sculptor Olle BĂŠrtling (1911–1981), an iconic figure of abstraction, in dialogue with the works of seven international artists. One of these artists, Jacob Dahlgren, is participating in a walkthrough of the exhibition in conversation with art historian HĂ„kan Nilsson.
Start date:
05 Mar 2026
Category:
At the Institut Suédois
Time
19:00 - 20:00
Hexagonal installation on a wall, formed by units of measurement in different colours.
Jacob Dahlgren, "Units of Measurements" (Triangle) (Detail), 2021. Courtesy of the Artist and Andréhn-Schiptjenko. Photo Alexandra de Cossette

Jacob Dahlgren was born in 1970 in Stockholm, where he still lives and works. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, he is fascinated by the ordinary objects that surround us. Using them as the raw materials of his works, he has developed, in a multidisciplinary practice that includes sculptures, installations (often interactive) and participative performances, an unpretentious abstraction that is closely tied to everyday life. From the Setouchi International Art Triennale in Japan to MoMA PS1 in New York, via the Nordic Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, his works have been exhibited at leading contemporary art venues and are part of such prestigious collections as those of Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Daimler Art Collection in Berlin and Kiasma in Helsinki.

HĂ„kan Nilsson is professor of art history at Södertörn University and a member of the Olle BĂŠrtling Foundation, whose mission is to conserve and manage Olle BĂŠrtling’s artistic legacy, promote constructive art in the spirit of BĂŠrtling and support art education. Nilsson’s research focuses primarily on post-war Modernism, public art and the built environment. He was previously professor of art history and theory at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm. Since 1997, he has been art critic for the daily Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. He regularly contributes to reviews such as Baltic Worlds.

Useful Information

  • Free admission, subject to availability
  • The conversation will be held in English