Bigert & Bergström’s solar egg travels to the Royal Djurgården in Stockholm

October 29, 2021

Bigert and Bergström’s Solar Egg is on display at the Royal Djurgården, as part of the Waldemarsudde museum’s exhibition Expedition Art. 

Expedition Artis a group exhibition that presents a selection of works that in various ways refer to stays and experiences in the Arctic and Antarctic. The exhibition, which has been created in collaboration with the Polar Research Secretariat, highlights the artist program arranged by this authority since 1988/89. From its inception, artists from various backgrounds have accompanied research expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic together with researchers in areas such as geology, marine biology, meteorology, climate, and sustainability research. The meetings that have taken place between researchers and artists have proven to be both inspiring, rewarding, and sometimes complicated. 

Among the many artists who have participated in the Polar Research Secretariat's artist program since 1988, a number were selected to participate in this exhibition. In addition, some works are included in the exhibition that have been made by artists who have stayed at research stations, including the Tarfala research station in the Kebnekaise mountains and the Polar Research Secretariat's research station in Abisko. 

The artists participating in Expedition Art are Bigert & Bergström, Josef Bull, Dascha Esselius, Lars Lerin, Hanna Ljungh, Svenerik Jakobsson, Johan Petterson and Sigrid Sandström. The selection of works by these artists has been strong, rich, and multifaceted. Materials and techniques vary from painting in oil and watercolor, sculpture in bronze and stone to installations of light and objects, photography, and film. A majority of the works of art are displayed indoors in Ateljén and on Södra vinden at the top of the castle on Waldemarsudde, while other works are exhibited outdoors in the museum's park. 

Light, ice, clay, sediment, cold and heat, traveling, animals and nature, social interaction, art and science as well as reflections on the environment and climate, are among the subjects that have inspired the participating artists. Their experiences during the expeditions and at research stations have led to interesting reflections on our existence, both on the personal level and in a broader sense: who we are, where we are going, how we take care of our planet, how we interact with wildlife, natural resources and ourselves. 

For additional images of the installation, you may view a recent article in Vogue Magazine here.

For more information on Bigert and Berström, please visit their artist page here.