Ellington

No matter which direction you turn, you’ll see work from Jacob Dahlgren’s Forward, Back, Right, Left exhibit when you visit the Henry Art Gallery this quarter. The exhibit explores abstraction in common objects while inviting viewers to be artists themselves.

The central feature of the display is an interactive wall of dartboards. The work, entitled “I, the world, things, life,” gives patrons a chance to actively participate in the piece by trying their luck at the game.

“The idea was to make it as a big abstract painting that was moving all the time,” Dahlgren said during a Jan. 9 lecture at the gallery. “All the people get to throw the darts. They become the artists.”

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Dahlgren is quite the piece of work himself, or so he feels. After the creation of linear abstract paintings became his livelihood, the artist decided to expand his work beyond the canvas. He wears a striped shirt every day, chosen from a collection that now exceeds 1,000.

“Someone told me I looked like my paintings because I always wore a striped shirt,” Dahlgren said. “Since 2000, I’ve been wearing a striped T-shirt everyday; I see myself as an abstract painting.”

As an artist who embraces many artistic mediums, Dahlgren’s pieces range from abstract paintings and sculptures to performance art and photography. In addition to his dartboard installation, the Henry is also featuring several of Dahlgren’s videos and a slideshow detailing his life and career. Following the theme of the exhibit, however, these pieces appear in unexpected locations.

On display in the museum’s elevator is Dahlgren’s performance piece “Signes d’ Abstraction.” Much of the video includes arranged gatherings of people in public areas, clearly identified as participants in the work by their striped shirts. Whether it’s a pub, shopping mall or his own apartment, Dahlgren turns everyday locations into extraordinary settings for exploring abstraction.

“They were taking over the public place,” Dahlgren said, discussing one of these events. “It was such an experience to see people wearing stripes all together.”

The exhibit as a whole mirrors the artist’s disposition. Finding abstraction and comedy in every aspect of life, Dahlgren produces fascinating pieces viewers can’t help but enjoy.

“It’s funny to see that the people who get the most crazy [with throwing darts] are the grown-ups,” the artist said during his lecture, amid much laughter from the audience. “The kids know how to behave.”

Forward, Back, Right, Left only requires as much thought and analysis as the viewer wishes to give, but it leaves a great deal of room for interpretation as well.

“His works engage the audience indelibly, yet simply; they proffer their conceptual depths only when requested,” the Henry’s Chief Curator Elizabeth Brown said while introducing the exhibit. “You come to the gallery, see the dartboards and play.”

The exhibit will be on display in the East Gallery of the Henry until April 19.

Reach reporter Lexie Krell at arts@dailyuw.com.