The site-specific artwork Economics, Bubbles, and Transformations (Flowchart) by Peter Hagdahl at the Stockholm School of Economics (House of Innovation, Norrtullsgatan 2) is a dynamic reflection on the social development of our time. The artist explores economic flows, social changes and historical events, which are depicted through a mixture of painting, drawing and video animation. The different forms of expression create a versatile spatial design that explores the connections, contradictions and conflicts that characterize our time.
The work resembles a comprehensive process map or a complex flow chart. It spans two floors and is made up of different techniques and materials such as photography on glass, painting on acrylic plastic and video projections. By using different artistic methods – painting, drawing, animation, programming and photography – a versatile expression is achieved. By combining elements from different sources – e.g. historical and socio-economic facts – with the artist’s own comments and associations – unexpected coincidences and tensions arise. The images used in the work are simple symbols or pictograms in primary colors that bear references to art history such as Herbin, S. Delaunay or Riley. The static expressions of the paintings and drawings meet the movements of the projections. By including information flows from the internet, a constantly changing picture is created.
Economics, Bubbles, and Transformations (Flowchart) is a reflection on the constant change and complexity of our world. The work visualizes the tension field of various forces that affect existence. At the same time, the work challenges and changes our way of understanding the world around us.
