Lars Kleen

Lars Kleen (b 1941 in Stockholm) has since the late 1960s created complex, large-scale works of art, works that he has chosen to call ”constructions”. Kleen has developed an in Sweden unique expression that brings to mind construction sites and hard work, but also ruins, decay and reconstruction.

The artistry of Kleen is about life, about change. There is something insecure, frightening and seductive about the large, fragile but at the same time stable works. As an extension of the constructions, which take time since Kleen creates everything on his own, comes the meticulously executed models, of which several are shown in the exhibition. With the models, the art works continue to evolve in a constantly ongoing process.

The materials are carefully chosen and often come from the construction industry. In the works steel, iron and wires are juxtaposed with brick, rubber, rope and building planking – all reused and in different ways transformed in the hands of Kleen. Even the short titles of the works come from the constructed world: House, Corner, Chapel, Street and Paling are some examples.

Curator: Karin Lundh

^{Photo: John Nelander}