Text
In the Swedish art world, abstract geometric art is usually rooted in European traditions of constructivism and concrete art. However Hans Åkerlund is actually more closely related to American minimalism and its desire to additionally reduce the artistic expression by the use of symmetry and repetition.

Hans Åkerlund uses circles and right angles as his point of departure. He discovers infinite possibilities, although what one perceives is not enough for him. He wants to extend his hypotheses even further and put these shapes to the test.

An artist who takes the consequences of only selecting a very few components in order to achieve a form of expression might be considered contrived or intellectual. Instead Hans Åkerlund strives for simplicity, clarity and a spiritual experience that is closer to that found in music.

The craft of the work is of major importance to Hans Åkerlund, and the experience of the work of art should not be lost because of the technical limitations of the workmanship. He seeks to reach an immaterial, or perhaps an elevated level of expression. Sometimes Hans Åkerlund’s works may seemingly convey a sense of functionality which might almost make one mistake them for articles of everyday use. In actual fact this is really to his advantage. It is also essential that the work of art does not refer to something else, it is a self-sufficient object with an independent existence.

Mikael Falk
Jakobsbergs Konsthall
English translation: Rachelle Puryear