Bo Christian Larsson is a Swedish artist who works mostly with large-sized drawings, installations, performances and objects. 1994-98 he studied at AKI Academy of Visual Arts in Enschede, Holland. 1997 he was an exchange student at Western Australia's College of Fine Arts in Perth, Australia. 2004-2008 he lived and worked in Munich, Germany, and since November 2008 he lives in Hamburg, where he achieved the Philipp Otto Runge Scholarship for one year.

Drawings

Drawing is for Larsson the start of the whole creative process. The act of drawing as a physical experience plays a big role in his practice. It is almost as if Larssons drawings would suggest a parallel existence, a mystical world of recognizable symbols and elements slightly tilted to create something obviously unknown.

Stephanie Rosenthal, curator: "Although the Swedish artist works with obvious symbolism, his work remains mystic and arcane and reminds one of a foreign land that wants to be discovered." in: Favoriten 08. Neue Kunst in München, exh.cat., Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany, pp.70 – 75)

Bo Christian Larsson: "I believe that strong feelings as a result of aesthetic experience form a very important part of my creative process. The accent on feelings like fear and anxiety – these are feelings you can experience when being confronted with the direct meaning of my work."

The drawings are works on their own, but Larsson also says that "the big drawings mostly work as blueprints for the installations and performances. My installations are mostly like my drawings just in 3D and the performances are like the act of drawing just with an audience."

Performances and Installations

Almost all of Larsson's installations are the results of a performance or happening. The essential elements and structures in the installations are prepared and specified, and the performance is an act of spontaneous action within this controlled space. A recurring component is a black wig hiding Larsson's face, creating a sort of artificial blindness and darkness guiding the view to the inside, to the essential.

Bo Christian Larrson: "I think this is the only costume you can wear at all, it makes so little and so much with your body at the same time. No big deal. You put on the wig and you are a different person. This has always fascinated me. I have the wig in front of my eyes. I turn it around, so I can't see anything. This is a very important point in my performances, that I blind myself and have to take a look inside. I become a different person and disappear in this role." (Interview on Bavarian Radio, 24.06.2008)

For Larsson everything has its origin in the darkness, where the human spirit develops - and in this case, free from the apparent reality because of the reduced visual perception.

In his performances Larsson shows his point of view on the world's prevailing conditions and his animadversion on them. For the viewer he creates an area for own connotations and projections upon the earthly circumstances.

Stephanie Rosenthal, curator: "Rites of passage are specifically important in Larsson's work. This phase stands for „already-loosening" of the old condition and "not-yet-arrived" in a new condition. In this "twilight-zone" there are the most possibilities to new thoughts. It seems as if Larsson wants to remain there. He becomes a border crosser, an intermediate being, passing through a permanent process of transformation." (in: Favoriten 08. Neue Kunst in München, exh.cat., Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany, pp.70 – 75)

In Larsson's performances he often uses the following recurring protagonists:

• Sonuvabitch: the constant hunter, on the search for the inner verve.
• Redeemer: the voice of minorities and a judge without a court.
• The Worldhater: A disgusted miserable complainer.
• Pentaman: the indistinguishable hermit.
• Mr. Empire: the silent warrior and guardian of the human ideal.
• The Poet: a perceptive soul and a proud bodyguard of the intellect.
• The Shadow: also known as the Worried Man.

Objects

The objects result almost every time as a result out of a performance and can be looked upon as debris of, or merchandise for, these actions.

Bo Christian Larsson: "I feel uncomfortable as a human in our time. That's why I hardly create new products, but try using already existent material." (SZ newspaper, 26./27.01.2008 in „Der Mann aus dem Wald")

The objects also close the circle of Larsson's creative process.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• 2012: Bo Christian Larsson, Kristinehamns Konstmuseum, Sweden
• 2010: Cataclysmic Raft, Performance on Sylt, Kunstraum Sylt Quelle, Germany
• 2010: A White Mess Pt. 2b, Soundfair, Berlin, Germany
• 2010: Open Space, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 2010: The Intruder, Tongewoelbe T25, Ingolstadt, Germany
• 2009: Drifting Across That Thin Line, Steinle Contemporary, Munich, Germany
• 2009: For Earthly Things..., Magazin4, Bregenzer Kunstverein, Bregenz, Austria (Sept. 2009)
• 2008: Silverscreams, Gallery Gad, Oslo, Norway
• 2008: What was made in the dark, will be brought to the light, Galerie Florian Walch, Munich, Germany
• 2006: An Itchy Howl Under a Skin Coloured Moon, Von Maltzahn Fine Arts, Munich, Germany
• 2006: a mediocre squirt in a commonplace tilts the real, Gallery GAD, Oslo, Norway
• 2005: Oil for food, Fuel for fools, Off Space Du Ag, Munich, Germany

Selected Group Exhibitions, Happenings and Performances

• 2010: Petersburg, Available Works at HBC, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 9, Berlin, Germany
• 2010: Hayward Closure Poster Project, Hayward Gallery London, UK
• 2010: Tales from the forest, Virserums Konsthall, Virserum, Sweden
• 2010: Gegenüber und Miteinander, Kunstprojekt auf dem Weg zum ÖKT 2010, Munich, Germany
• 2009: Jahresgaben 2009, Kunstverein München, Munich, Germany
• 2009: Interesting Productions, The Office, Berlin, Germany
• 2009: Walking in my mind, Hayward Gallery, London, UK
• 2009: Extra Extra, China Art Objects Galleries, Los Angeles, USA
• 2009: Minton's Playhouse, Artnews Projects, Berlin, Germany, organized by: Caravan Berlin
• 2008: Indifference, Forum Kreuzberg, Skalitzer Str. 133, Berlin, Germany
• 2008: The waste land, caravan Berlin, Berlin, Germany
• 2008: Out There in the middle of nowhere, Galerie Der Künstler, Munich, Germany
• 2008: Favoriten 2008, Kunstbau, Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany
• 2008: Interesting Productions III, The Fortress of Day and Night, ZK-Max München, Munich, Germany
• 2008: Hell-O-World pt. 1 (Sweden), Happening in Kristinehmans Konstfoerening, Sweden
• 2008: Toy-Void, A performative identity project as a part of "Doing Identity", Kammerspiele München, Munich Germany
• 2008: Interesting Productions II, shown in the collection of Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany
• 2007: Königskinder, Residenzmuseum, Munich, Germany
• 2007: B.Line, Ter Caemer-Meert Contemporary, Nieuwerke, Belgium
• 2007: Our House Reverbed, performance in Nacht Linie-Kammerspiele, Kammerspiele München, Munich Germany
• 2007: I can eat that, Providence RI, USA
• 2006: Interesting Productions II, Three man show in "Lothringer 13", Munich, Germany
• 2006: Out, Household and Birds-reinventions of A. Kaprow's Happenings as a part of the exhibition "Allan Kaprow" in Haus der Kunst, Munich Germany
• 2006: daydream demolition (a speculation), performance as a part of the theater piece "Bunny Hill 2", Kammerspiele München, Munich Germany
• 2006: Bonnie Prince German, Low Salt Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland
• 2006: Panic, our older brother, Gallery ALM, Munich, Germany
• 2005: kkk becomes santa…REDIALLED, performance as a part of the exhibition "kunstlerbruder", Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany
• 2005: Imagen, luz y sonido para el desarollo, Centre civic Barcelonetta, Barcelona, Spain
• 2005: Copy your idol, Organized by the Berlin Foundation of Contemporary art, Kunsthalle Berlin Pankow, Berlin, Germany
• 2005: kkk becomes santa and santa becomes kkk, performance in the exhibition "Experiment Dunstkreis", Westendstr., Munich, Germany
• 2005: On a road to permanent demonstration, Utopia Station in World Social Forum, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• 2005: If Spiderman is real, so is Utopia!, Performance in "Utopia Station", Haus der Kunst, Munich Germany
• 2004: Voids and Fillings, Kellereingang Ost of Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany
• 2004: Young artist, Kristinehamns konstmuseum, Kristinehamn, Sweden
• 2003/04: Now and then, Kristinehamns konstmuseum, Kristinehamn, Sweden
• 2002: Mindmapping happening, EMPIRE Global Mobile, Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Haus des Lehrers, Berlin, Germany
• 2002: Mindmapping Video project on the Four seasons hotel in Berlin
• 2002: The human body in return, Alma Lövs museum of unexpected art in Östra Ämtervik, Sweden
• 2002: Stockholm Art-Fair on sollentunamässan, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2002: Young artist, Kristinehamns konstmuseum, Kristinehamn, Sweden
• 2001: Project Mindmapping FfM, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
• 2001: Performance Falling down REDUX, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
• 2001: Performance Engraved episodes, with Leif Alexis, Treptower Park, Berlin, Germany
• 2001: Scholarship exhibition on Kristinehamns museum of modern art (received a letter of honor)
• 2000: Supposedly forgotten, Performance on the Ullriken mountain in Bergen, Norway
• 2000: Petra Jensen, Jonas Liveröd, B.Christian Larsson, Kristinehamns art hall, Kristinehamns, Sweden
• 2000: Holland, what makes things go-go?, Väsby art hall, Upplands väsby, Sweden
• 1999: Future park, AIAS Int. Artist seminary in Amsterdam, Holland
• 1998: B.Christian Larsson and Johannes Buss, Gallerie de Villa, Enschede, Holland
• 1998: Group examination exhibition on the AKI, Enschede, Holland
• 1998: Liljevalchs spring exhibition 1998
• 1997: Everything is duty free in Eden, Gallery De R.A.T, Enschede, Holland
• 1997: Sculpture survey, Gomboc Gallery, Perth, Australia

Grants and Awards

• 2010: flux factory Residency Scholarship, New York, USA
• 2009: Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle, artist in residence, Sylt, Germany
• 2008/09: Philipp Otto Runge Scholarship, Hamburg, Germany
• 2006: Musik in öffentlichen Raum, Kulturreferat München, Munich, Germany
• 2002: Young artist, Kristinehamns konstmuseum, Kristinehamn, Sweden

Collections

• 2008: Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
• 2008: Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Munich, Germany
• 2006: Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany
• 2006: Hans Mayer, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 2006: Kristinehmans Museum for Modern Art, Kristinehman, Sweden
• 2006: Statiol / Hydro Collection, Oslo, Norway

Selected bibliography

• 2009: Bo Christian Larsson "For Earthly Things Where Turned Into Watery, And What Before Swam In The Water Now Went Upon The Ground", (exh. cat.)
• 2009: Walking in my mind, Hayward Gallery, Sounthbank Centre, London (exh.cat.)
• 2009: Bo Christian Larsson, On and on is how we are, Monograph, published by Argo Books, Berlin, Germany
• 2008: Favoriten 08 Neue Kunst in München, exh.cat., Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany, pp. 70 – 75, p. 107
• 2008: Kom Hem. Tjugo Värmländska Konstnärer Återvänder! Rackstadmusset, Arvika, Sweden, exh.cat.
• 2008: Bo Christian Larsson, What was done in the dark, will be brought to the light, Munich, exh.cat.
• 2007: MONOPOL, 12/2007, December, pp. 94–96
• 2007: Kunstforum, No. 184, March – April 2007, pp. 358 – 361
• 2007: Artforum, February 2007, pp. 282 – 285
• 2006/07: Allan Kaprow. 18 Happenings in 6 Parts, p. 66 - 67
• 2006/07: Art as Life, Haus der Kunst, Munich, 2006/2007, pp. 66–67

External links

• http://bochristianlarsson.com