Tobias Birgersson

Artist statement:

”Art and craft start with tradition and material. They can be mined by the contemporary maker to answer why, what, how and for whom. 

” Material and craft used to be so important to me and to my identity. Now I tend to see the material and level of craft mastery as different colours in my box of crayons. It is both completely unimportant and so important at the same time.”

Name of art work:

CONTACT 

Thoughts about the art work:

When I can recognize a hint of a symbolic purpose in my objects, where no specific practical use can be discerned, this is when they become loaded with a personality and begin to live. The performative function is then enhanced by the context I choose to place them in e. g. gently wrapped in an old suitcase or placed in the hands of my father. By being liberated from the practical function, an object attains a new kind of value and exudes the force of a tool.

What are they:

The CONTACT triptych consists of hot forged tool like steel forms that interact with different parts of Baseball bats used as handles. CONTACT is also a series of Art prints made in Collaboration with Photoghrapher Christian Habetzeder. https://christianhabetzeder.se (Model and father Mats Birgersson)

About the artist – BIO or short version of Curriculum Vitae:

Tobias works as a material based maker with Arts and Craft, Design and Art. He has been working with teaching at University level since 2007 for Konstfack, Ädellab and as an Associate Professor for The University of Gothenburg HDK, Valand, Campus Steneby since 2016. Tobias is a founding member of Gallery LOD and Stockholms Täljargille. 

He grew up in Sweden and holds a Master of Fine Arts, specialization in Metal, from Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockholm. He is still based in Sweden and exhibits Internationally as well as in his home country.  

Tobias work is represented at the Swedish National Gallery as well as in private collections.