Theo Ågren

My artworks are site-specific and have a clear connection to the place and the situation, both conceptually and visually. During recent years I have been working a lot with public commissions. Another important part of my artistic practice is the collaboration projects with the artist Bjorn Hegardt. In our installations / projects, we work with the context of the place, we twist and turn ingrained opinions and beliefs. The installations are visually appealing with everyday-life ready-mades, basic colour and shape problems are an important part of the work. In our latest project, White Light we continued the collaboration with Ariane Spanier, graphic designer, who did a poster/catalogue that was an important part of the installation. When teaching, I am interested in having a dialogue with the students about why we do what we do, and how we do what we do. How shape and colour communicate with the user interesting me as much as the ideas and thoughts that is behind a finished, or for that matter, unfinished work.

www.theoagren.blogspot.com

Education
1997-01 The Academy of Fine Arts, Trondheim, Norway, 1999 Valand Academy of Fine Arts, Gothenburg, 1993-95 Hovedskous Målarskola, Gothenburg.

Exhibitions (selection)
* with Björn Hegardt ** with Björn Hegardt and Mariken Kramer
2009: White Light, Prosjektrom Carl Berner, Oslo * 2008: Konst 50, Marks Konstgille, Kinna, Sweden, Somewhere Particular,,The White Tube Oslo 2007: Galleri rummet, Alingsås, Sweden
2006: Skopje Whirlwind, Press to Exit project Space, Skopje, Macedonia * (catalogue) Suspicious Landscape, Galleri Konstepidemin, Gothenburg*, Kitchen Sunset, Bryggerihallen/Galleri F15, Moss, Norway
2004 Betwixt and Between, Galleri 21, Malmö** What a Curious Feeling, By the Way, Bergen, Norway *

Grants
2007-09: Two year working grant, The Art Grants Committee, Sweden 2004: One year working grant, The Art Grants Committee, Sweden, Sleipnir, travelling grant 2002, 04: Norweigan Artists Foundation, Project Grant
2002: Gothenburg city grant

Public commissions
2010-2011 Sätilaskolan, Marks Kommun, Sweden 2009 Vad hände sen, plastic sculptures, Askim, Sweden 2006-2007 Landskap i landskapet, shaping of four playgrounds Ale kommun, Sweden 2003 Tittaren, cast iron sculpture, Landvetter Centrum, Sweden

Theo Ågren

Telephone +46(0)31-786 65 27

Cellular +46(0)739-24 51 29

Designprogrammet grundnivå: Junior Lecturer Visual Arts, Head of Dept. Design

Portfolio

White Light (2009)

Installation in collaboration with artist Björn Hegardt. Shown at Prosjektrom Carl Berner, Oslo 2009. Poster/catalogue by Ariane Spanier. For more pics and essay (by Markus Degerman) about the project: www.bjornandtheo.net

Vad hände sen? (2009)

Commission for Göteborgs Stad, placed at Brottkärrs Förskola, Askim 2009. The work consist of eight pieces, placed both outside and inside of the building. The sculptures are made of yesmonite and painted in bright colour. For more pics: www.theoagren.blogspot.com

Suspicious Landscape (2006)

Part of the exhibition Suspicious Landscape at Galleri Konstepidemin, 2006. Title: Mountain, material: concrete 2000 mm high. For more pics from the exhibition. www.theoagren.blogspot.com

Another Landscape (2008)

Another Landscape, The White Tube (TWT), Töyen Subway station, Oslo 2008 The showcase with its space and shape is the starting point for the photoinstallation "Another Landscape", which consists of a large wallpaper resembling a landscape. Stuck onto the window of the showcase are photos of birds that seem to have crashed into the glass on their way towards this landscape. For more pics from the installation: www.theoagren.blogspot.com

Skopje Whirlwind (2006)

Press to Exit Project Space, Skopje, Macedonia 2006, in collaboration with artist Björn Hegardt. The project’s starting point was Skopje and its residents. After visiting various homes in and around the city, photographing interiors and objects, the result was presented in the gallery. By mixing belongings, meaningful or useless, together in a whirlwind, the photo-installation is a portrait of the interaction between the residents and the artists. A catalogue/poster was made in collaboration with Ariane Spanier, www.arianespanier.com. for more pics from the installation: www.bjornandtheo.net