Projects – Thomas Liljenberg

DU – DIALOGUE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

DU – DIALOGUE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

DU was an artistic research project focusing on public space, citizens dialogue and urban development. The project was executed in four different locations in greater Stockholm in 2014: Slussen in central Stockholm, the districts of Rinkeby-Kista and Husby and the suburb Botkyrka south of the city. In each of the places various sub-projects was developed in dialogue with residents, associations and local authorities. Altogether over one hundred people participated in the activities which include workshops, city walks, public artwork, publications and exhibitions.

The different subproject within the framework of DU were: SLUSSEN EN HJÄRTEFRÅGA (Slussen, Stockholm City), MODEL FOR A TRANSPARENT ART INSTITUTION (Fittja, Botkyrka), HUSBY164 (Husby, Rinkeby-Kista), LANDSCAPE PAINTING DEMOCRATIC (Kista, Rinkeby-Kista).

DU was initiated in conjunction with The Computer and Systems Sciences at Stockholm University, KTH- The Royal Institute of Technology Division of Urban and Regional Studies Department of Urban Planning and Environment and Svensk Byggtjänst. The project is run with support from Kulturbryggan and local sponsors.

Cooperating partners was: The Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, The College of Printmaking Arts, Grafiska Sällskapet, Botkyrka kommun, Tumba konsthall, Husby konsthall, Husby konst och hantverksförening, Stockholms Stadsmuseum, Data och Systemvetenskapen vid Stockholms universitet, Stockholms stad, Kulturtavlorna, Ny syn på Slussen, Kulturbryggan, Konstfrämjandet, KAC (kistaartcity), Kista Galleria och Norra Sidan.

Images (from top): 1. Citywalk at Slussen, Stockholm, guided by Kristoffer Svenberg 2. Citywalk at Slussen, Stockholm 3. Poster exhibition at Grafiska Sällskapet, Stockholm 4. Poster exhibition at Kulturtavlorna, Stockholm (posters by Tommy Mäkinen and Thomas Liljenberg) 5. Poster exhibition at Kulturtavlorna, Stockholm (poster by Åsa Andersson) 6. DU installation and workshop at The New Biennial for Art and Architecture, Botkyrka 7. DU installation and workshop at The New Biennial for Art and Architecture, Botkyrka 8. A Model for a Qualitative Society, participants 9. Excursion at Husby, Stockholm 9. Ad for DU Husby 164 in Norra Sidan Magazine 10. Workshop Landscape Painting Democratic with Husby konst & hantverksförening, Kista 11. SCT – Landscape Painting Democratic, Jan Stenbecks torg, Kista

SCT (Street Corner Talking)

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

SCT (Street Corner Talking)

SCT was a variable text- and light installation created in collaboration with Bo Samuelsson. The piece consisted of a 16 x 4.5 metre long large glass wall that covered the entire corner of Kista Mall facing out towards Jan Stenbecks torg in Rinkeby-Kista, Stockholm. The project started in 2009 and ended in 2014.

Visually SCT was based on the interplay between text and light. The glass wall facing the square was covered with a replaceable film with cut out text. In the space between the glass surface and the inner wall was an installation of 300 LED lights creating a shifting play of lights where the text appeared shining in different colors. The texts and the film was continually updated in collaboration with citizens and local organizations, and thereby creating a constantly current and ongoing work. The process of connecting other players to the work was a central part of SCT’s artistic, theoretical and social motif. Participants was recruited through workshops within the project KAC (kistaartcity), initiated by Thomas Liljenberg and Bo Samuelsson. A total of seven different updates were carried out between the years 2010-14.

The title Street Corner Talking referred to the work as an ongoing interactive discussion – but also to its actual location in the corner of Kista Mall facing out toward Jan Stenbecks Torg. A location involved in a dynamic urban development process which includes the formation of centers, infrastructure, businesses and residence.

Following updates were performed between 2009 – 2014: 1. ONE SIZE WITH ALL 2. PUSH AND PULL: An Urban Comedy for Allan Kaprow, in collaboration with Megafonen. 3. A MODEL FOR A QUALITATIVE SOCIETY, in collaboration with Björinge förskola. 4. RÄTTVISA, in collaboration with Byrån för lika rättigheter i Kista. 5. SUBJECTIVE COMMERCIAL ILLUMINATION, in collaboration with John Doe Agency. 6. LANDSCAPE PAINTING (DEMOCRATIC), in collaboration with Husby konst & hantverksförening. 7. KISTA CITY, in collaboration with Kista Mall

Images (from top): 1 Rättvisa. 2 and 3 A Model for a Qualitative Society. 4 One Size With All. 5 and 6 Subjective Commercial Illumination. 7 Landscape Painting Democratic

KAC

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

KAC

KAC (kistaartcity) was a platform for participatory art, teaching, research, and experiment with subjects related to urban development and contemporary art practices. The project was initiated in 2005 in collaboration with Bo Samuelsson and was located in Stockholm, Sweden. The project was completed in 2015.

A major part of the activities in the project was located to Rinkeby-Kista, one of Stockholm’s most expansive suburbs regard to business, research and urban development. Here local democracy meets great challenges in the form of global politics and network economics. Rinkeby was created as part of the so called million program in the late 1960s, and is today associated with high degree of immigration, unemployment and low education. Located next to Rinkeby is Kista, being a result of the hope in the new ITC industry and is called ”Sweden’s Silicon Valley”.

The local situation was the starting point for the project, focusing on the effect globalization has on local power, public space and democracy. A strategic point of departure was the concept of “appropriation” and the interpretation of appropriation as a factor that potentially could strengthen the user’s participation in the development of the city and thereby of democracy. Appropriation is seen here as a spatial production that is in opposition to the existing and predominating power structure. The questions that arise are intimately connected with the individual’s democratic “right” to live, express oneself, influence, use and change the physical shape of the city and one’s own identity.

A method for how workshops could be a part of the project was developed, using a semitransparent mobile building, which could be set up in different public places in Kista. Inside the building workshops with invited participants took place. Visualization of the discussion and the workshop was directly manifested on the building’s semitransparent walls, communicated to immediate interaction. Within the framework of the project various collaborations took place; with schools, companies, institutions and organizations.

In November 2008 the project received financial support from the fund Innovativ kultur and local estate owners in Kista. Between 2009 – 2014 KAC implemented the project Street Corner Talking, a variable Public Art work at Jan Stenbeck’s Plaza in Kista, with support from Kista Mall. Between 2011 – 2012 KAC participates in the development of the project Performing Structure, in collaboration with the artists Karin Hansson and Johanna Gustavsson Fürst in conjunction with research at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and the Department for Computer and System Science at Stockholm University. Since 2011 KAC also has received support from the Swedish Government foundation Kulturbryggan for developing the project A Model for a Qualitative Society. In 2013 Thomas Liljenberg initiated the project DU – Dialogues for Urban Development in collaboration with KAC, the Department for Computer and System Science at Stockholm University, KTH- The Royal Institute of Technology Division of Urban and Regional Studies Department of Urban Planning and Environment and Svensk Byggtjänst.

Images (from top): 1. KAC workshop Push and Pull, Husby 2. KAC workshop Push and Pull, Husby 3. KAC excursion Husby 4. KAC workshop Kista Science Tower 5. KAC workshop Kosta Science Tower 6. KAC exhibition Kista Science Tower 7. KAC T-shirt Verklighetens folk 8. Deviant Studies in Cityplanning, CD 6. SCT – Subjective Commercial Illumination

MEDBORGARCENTRUM

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

MEDBORGARCENTRUM (CITIZEN CENTRE)

A proposal for a new public centre in the district Vårby gård in Huddinge Municipal, south of Stockholm, 2002 –2004. In collaboration with Anders Krüger, Erik Stenberg, Rajmo Voss, Galip Bozkurt and Lars Svensson.

Medborgarcentrum started as a collaborative project in 2002 between the artists Thomas Liljenberg and Anders Krüger. They proposed to Huddinge Municipal to develop a new public building, a Citizen centre, in Vårbyskolan, the existing Junior High School, centrally located in Vårby gård. The project gradually developed in close dialogue with people in Vårbygård and Huddinge County: inhabitants of Vårby gård, local polititians, the headmaster of Vårbyskolan Stefan Frohm, city planner Galip Bozkurt and many others.

Medborgarcentrum was based on a vision of culture and learning as the heart and future of Vårby gård, and proposed a transformation of the present school into a culture and learning institute for all citizens of the community. The new public building would contain a combined public and school library, the International Children´s Museum, a citizen’s office, and a café and meeting place for students and all other visitors. The proposed new building was designed as a transparent architectural structure, adding a long needed updating of the 1970’s concrete esthetics of Vårby gård.

The various stages of the project was presented on several occasions and invited the public to participate in the process of planning for the future of their community. In the beginning of 2004, Medborgarcentrum was presented along with an architectural scale model at ”Demokratiforum”, a political forum organized by County polititians and citizens of Vårby gård.

In the late stage of the process Liljenberg and Krüger had also included in their project team architects Erik Stenberg and Rajmo Voss, city planner Galip Bozkurt, and model builder Lars Svensson.

Images (from top): 1. Medborgarcentrum, model exterior 2. Medborgarcentrum, implementation plan 3. Medborgarcentrum, implementation plan 4. Model building 5. Medborgarcentrum, model interior 6. Vårbyskolan, entrance

KULTURKONTORET

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

KULTURKONTORET (THE OFFICE OF CULTURE), 2002 – 2005

KULTURKONTORET was a public art project in the Stockholm suburb Vårby gård. The project was initiated by Thomas Liljenberg in co-operation with Af-Kultur and Storstadssatsningen (The Metropolitan Development Initiative) in Huddinge Municipal.

Participating artist: Loulou Cherinet, Maria Hurtig, Mattias Larsson, Thomas Liljenberg, Anders Krüger, Johan Rosenquist, Bo Samuelsson and Charlotte Åberg.

Sub-projects: RASTPLATS (Mattias Larsson), 60 MINUTE SCULTURE (Maria Hurtig, Ingo Reulecke and Katarina Eriksson), WHO MERRIES WHO (Johan Rosenquist), HAIGHA SOPHIA (Bo Samuelsson in collaboration with St Mikaels kyrkan and the Islamic Society in Vårby gård), COUNTERSTRIKE (Loulou Cherinet in collaboration with Vårbyskolan, Vårby gård) INGENTING (Charlotte Åberg in collaboration with Vårbyskolan, Vårby gård), MEDBORGARCENTRUM (Thomas Liljenberg and Anders Krüger in collaboration with Erik Stenberg, Raijmo Voss and Gallip Bozkurt)

Cooperating partners: Huddinge Municipal, Af-Kultur/Stockholm, Vårbyskolan, Konstnärsnämnden, St Mikaels kyrkan i Vårby gård, Islamiska föreningen i Vårby gård, Hyresgästföreningen, Realia, Spendrups, Vårbyskolan, Villa San Michele, Moderna Dansteatern and Huge fastigheter.

THE NEW KISTA SCIENCE CITY MODEL

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

THE NEW KISTA SCIENCE CITY MODEL

Installation with semitransparent building (wood and polyeten), spotlights and posters. In conjunction with the exhibition PERFORMING THE COMMON, Husby konsthall and Moderna Museet, Stockholm 2012. Curated by Karin Hansson, Johanna Gustavsson Fürst and Thomas Liljenberg in conjunction with the Department of Computer and System Sciences (DSV) at Stockholm University and The Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm.

The New Kista Science City Model was closely connected to the project KAC (kistaartcity), a project about place, public space and identity in the district of Rinkeby-Kista, Stockholm.

”Thomas Liljenberg looks at how place is created, not from an individual perspective, but how a collective structure is constructed from the single actions of a crowd of people. His activities in Rinkeby-Kista highlight the role a collaborative artistic practice can play in reproducing and communicating the place as something in common. By imitating the making of an institution – the rhetoric and the rituals – he emphasized both the performative and the playful in the making. In the project The New Kista Science City Model, the brandbuilding and the concept around Kista Science City has been appropriated as the basis for an alternative art institution whose activities are based on local partnerships, collective creation, sharing and interactivity. In the project, the institution is literally portrayed in the form of a semi-transparent, mobile building, which is placed in various public and semi-public places in Rinkeby-Kista. The building is used in workshops, where the results are documented directly on the walls of the building, for immediate interaction with the outside world. By taking over the rhetoric of the science city, in combination with a participatory art practice in which residents are encouraged to take over the concept and the location, the project points to the opportunity and the role that an artistic practice can play in reclaiming and conquering the creation of meaning around the place”. (Performing the Common; Karin Hansson, Revolver Publishing, Berlin 2014)

Images (from top): 1. Poster for The New Kista Science City Model 2. The New Kista Science City Model, installation Husby konsthall 3. The New Kista Science City Model* 4. Push and Pull – An Urban Comedy for Allan Kaprow, workshop Husby** 5. Push and Pull – An Urban Comedy for Allan Kaprow, workshop Husby**

* Semitransparent building in collaboration with Bo Samuelsson

**Workshop in collaboration with Bo Samuelsson and Megafonen

ELEKTROLYS

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

ELEKTROLYS

Installation and performance in collaboration with Leif Elggren, with 30 pair copper and iron plates (200 x 20 cm), electric wires, battery and sulphuric acid. In conjunction with the exhibition IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE (curated by JO Mallander), at Nordiskt Konstcentrum, Helsingfors 1982.

ELEKTROLYS was also exhibited at Galleri Mors Mössa, Gothenburg 1984, at Kristofferskolan, Stockholm 1989 (in conjunction with AGORA) and at Fylkingen, Stockholm 2003 (in conjunction with PERFECT PERFORMANCE).

Images (from top): 1. Elektrolys, Nordiskt Konstcentrum, Helsingfors 2. Elektrolys (detail), Nordiskt Konstcentrum, Helsingfors 3. Exhibition catalogue IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE, Nordiskt Konstcentrum, Helsingfors 4. Exhibition catalogue Elektrolys, Galleri Mors Mössa Göteborg

LÄGENHETEN

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

LÄGENHETEN (THE APARTMENT)

Exhibition in collaboration with Leif Elggren, at FORUM, Stockholm 1991. Installation with objects (concret, iron, lightning fixture) and silkscreen prints.

Parts of LÄGENHETEN was also exhibited at Stockholm Art Fair 1992, under the title LÄGENHETEN 92.

The exhibition LÄGENHETEN was the final phase of a project initiated in 1979 by Thomas Liljenberg and Leif Elggren, when the artists exhibited an apartment at Sigtunagatan 5 in Stockholm. The exhibition was documented and formed the basis of several exhibitions, performances and soundworks by Liljenberg and Elggren, between 1979 and 1992.

Images (from top): 1. LÄGENHETEN, Forum 1991. 2. LÄGENHETEN, Forum 1991. 3. Exhibition catalogue, Forum 1991. 4. LÄGENHETEN 92, Stockholm Art Fair, 1992. 5. LÄGENHETEN, Sigtunagatan 5, Stockholm 1979. 6. LÄGENHETEN, Sigtunagatan 5, Stockholm 1979

CENTRALLAGRET

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

FIREWORK CENTRALLAGRET

A small gallery in collaboration with Leif Elggren, at Tomtebogatan 30, Stockholm, 1983 – 1984

Following exhibitions was realized at CENTRALLAGRET:

13.7.83 – (Leif Elggren and Thomas Liljenberg).

SCHAKT (Per Jonson and Inger Arvidsson).

LOT (Leif Elggren and Thomas Liljenberg).

BRUNA MÅLNINGAR (Thomas Liljenberg).

STOCKHOLM-GRONINGEN (Leif Elggren and Thomas Liljenberg).

CONFIRMATION – DUTY & FATE – KOPPLARE (CM von Hausswolff and Ulrich Hillebrant).

VI BJUDER FIREWORK PÅ FISKETUR (Leif Elggren and Thomas Liljenberg)

Images (from top): 1. Poster for 13.7.83– 2. Poster for LOT 3. Poster for Stockholm – Groningen, presentation of a book 4. Poster for Bruna målningar 5. Invitation card for Vi bjuder Firework på fisketur

DIRECT

Thomas Liljenberg — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:57:55 +0000

DIRECT

DIRECT, was a project about contemporary art practices, urban development and social mobilization. The project started in 2006 and ended in 2007 and was located and realized in a number of places in greater Stockholm: in Tensta, Kista, Stockholm city, Vårby gård, Alby, Hökarängen and Skarpnäck. Public project-offices hade been opened on these places in dialog with the citizens, associations and local politics.

DIRECT had an overall structure initiated by Thomas Liljenberg (artist) and Hans Andrén (business developer). The structure included measures to develop competence as well as a vision and a platform/network for artistic and commercial development with a focus on social mobilization and social capital. DIRECT provided training in production, which means that participants either brought their own projects into DIRECT or initiated projects while taking part in DIRECT. DIRECT also provided with professional training in project management and networking to give participants management tools and thereby speed up development work. The participants was artists, architects, filmmakers, designers, scientists, entrepreneurs, civil servants and residents.

SUBPROJECTS
Various subprojects was developed in the project, connected with ongoing local processes concerning democracy, integration, regional and city district development. Other projects hade to do with commercial and artistic development in dialog with residents, local government and the business sector:

Finn Malmgrens plan – FMP-DIRECT: FMP – DIRECT was a task concerned with social mobilization in Hammerbyhöjden, a suburb south of Stockholm. FMP-DIRECT invited initiators from business, cultural and community sectors in the area of Finn Malmgrens plan. Seminars, workshops, exhibitions and networking meetings pave the way for initiatives, projects, assignments, to partners, to sounding boards and to funding.

OMVÄRLD (“OUTSIDE WORLD”) – OM-DIRECT: A group of 18 cultural workers: artists, designers, filmmakers, actors and architects developed strategies and tasks related to analysis of the world around them. The projects being developed within OM-DIRECT took the form of films, Community Gardens, architecture and design.

Bo i Tensta (“Live in Tensta”) – BiT-DIRECT: BiT-DIRECT developed models for analysis of needs and social mobilization in relation to rebuilding of apartments in so-called “miljonprogram” areas (suburbs densely built up in the 1960’s and -70’s) under the name of Bo i Tensta. The point of departure was the concept Recycle the miljonprogram. Individual solutions for everyone outlined by Erik Stenberg, architect SAR/MSA.

Kista Art City – KAC-DIRECT: KAC – DIRECTwas an analysis examining the prospects for establishing a cultural platform in Kista where business, culture, residential and social life interact with one another. Kista is one of the most dynamic locations in Scandinavia and northern Europe with regard to information ICT – technology. Interesting processes are taking place here regarding commercial enterprise, residency, infrastructure and formation of a center. How can art and culture interact and develop practices that collaborate with this development and strengthen the identity of the place?

Participating artists: Cecilia Parsberg, Michael Ellburg, Sofia Häyhtiö, Anna Eriksson, PG Hylén, Frédéric Iriarte, Britta Kleen, Gunilla Larsén, Fredrika Linder, Anders Lindgren, Lucas Lund, Henrik Lörstad, Per Milstam, Martha Podell, Helena Riverstål, Per Stadigh, Johan Stone, Bo Samuelsson och Peter Svedberg.

Cooperating partners: ESF (Europeans Social Fund), Huddinge municipality, AF-kultur, Botkyrka municipality, Subtopia, Konstnärsnämnden, United Spaces, Projektledarforum and others.