This artistic duo has consistently redefined the way art is presented throughout their career. Michael Elmgreen from Denmark and Ingar Dragset from Norway are life partners and artistic collaborators who live and create together in Berlin. Their work explores the intersection of art, architecture, and design. They are known for pieces that blend wit and subversive humor with a focus on social and cultural issues, often addressing the environmental context in which their installations are placed.
One of the works that exemplifies the connection to its environment is the sculpture Van Gogh’s Ear, which was installed in 2016 at Rockefeller Center in New York. The piece features a swimming pool placed perpendicular to the ground, adorned with bright lights and sculptural, curved elements. The sculpture greets the public on Fifth Avenue – a place where fashion, commerce, tourism, and business intersect with an object removed from its usual setting, prompting passersby to wonder “Why?”, much like the confusion Van Gogh sparked when he cut off his ear.
Another fascinating work by the duo is The Weight of One Self. At first glance, it appears to be a classical depiction of a naked hero; however, it is not a traditional sculpture, and the figure is not a hero but rather someone trying to save themselves. The two faces, one of the standing man and the other of the dead man, are identical, prompting the viewer to question the possible meanings and motifs that draw from mythology, philosophy, self-responsibility, and justice. Whether intentional or not, the piece is placed in front of the Palace of Justice in Lyon, France.
Bottom line: Surrealism disrupting tranquility.
