(un)(re)learning objects
2024

Supported by På Väg 45 residency, Vänersborg Konsthall

Special thanks to Märta Cassel and Hanna Tobiasson

(un)(re)learning objects is a research attempt to explore the essence of (art)objects. The project is an experimental exploration aimed at transcending traditional understandings of (art)objects, moving beyond their components, materiality, quality, and function.

The central question posed by the project—”what do you perceive from these objects?”—prompts exploration into how we perceive (art) objects before recognizing, understanding, and analyzing them. Departing from object-oriented philosophy and phenomenology, it invites visitors to reflect on what lies between the two main directions of “what an object is made of” and “what it does,” encouraging them instead to consider the essence of the object itself and how we perceive it. 

Situated within an art gallery setting, the project challenges the conventional boundaries separating art objects from viewers. It encourages participants to interact with the exhibited improvised clay objects by touching, rearranging, and even dismantling them. Throughout the duration of the installation, diverse groups of individuals spend time engaging with the objects and participating in dialogue about their perceptions. The audience’s written contributions are continuously added to the installation throughout the process.