Mattias Larson, artist

The desire to visualise the invisible is often seen in my practice.
My reflections on electromagnetism and sound for example, has led to exploratory work in two and three dimensions. The fourth dimension as the aspect of time in performances, installations, sound and video works. Wandering along the frontier of natural science, I have played with our perception and definition of reality, with the respect for empirical science and environmental issues maintained.

Working with recycled materials, or things that are defined as scrap or garbage, has both an ethical and an aesthetic meaning to me. The ethical in the sense of resource awareness and the aesthetic value of its patina or richness of associations. New combinations of thoughts or found objects yield new associations and insights.

In addition to a commitment to the environment, I have wanted to give my artistry a meaning in creating independent cultural scenes. After experiencing the speculation and elitism of the current art scene, I and others with me wanted to create alternative ways to work with art.

I found great creative flow in starting underground clubs during my studies in the 80s and art events at the studios me and some colleagues built in a basement garage later in the end of the 90s.

Together with another group of friends, who came together from different parts of the world and wanted to create something that we ourselves wanted to see in our hometown, opened the Candyland gallery in Stockholm 2004.

After a few successful years, the same group + 4 people more started Hammarby Art Port which functioned as both a studio association, art gallery and event venue. Among other things, artistic corporate events were explored, where customers were offered creative experiences and artists were given job opportunities. We also carried out decoration assignments, where stairwells, elevators and loading docks were given artistic designs.

For many years I worked in the group Faunafest organising clubs and parties with artistic content. Many jobs for artists, musicians and deejays were created, there too. Since studies I have played together with artist collegs in the band Hybris Healers and deejaying occasionally.

Mattias Larson