Michael Johansson: Finding Doubles

Packa Pappas Kappsäck, 2006
(Pack Daddy's Suitcases)

Artist Statement

by Michael Johansson


I am fascinated walking around flea markets finding doubles of seemingly unique, though often useless objects I have already purchased at another flea market. Despite the fact that I did not have any use for them even the first time, the desire to own two of these objects becomes too strong to resist. The unique and unknown origin of the object increases my desire to want the double – the unlikelihood of this sensation repeating itself produces an attraction that is too strong to resist.

This combination of the now-familiar and the new-unknown are among the various factors that come together to create the irresistible pull of these objects.  This re-iterated fascination and the overwhelming desire that follows is central to my art practice.

I am intrigued by irregularities in daily life. Not those that appear when something extraordinary occurs, but those that are created by an exaggerated form of regularity. Colours or patterns from two separate objects or environments concur, like when two people pass each other dressed in the exact same outfit. Or when you are switching channels on your TV and realize that the same actor is playing two different roles on two different channels at the same time. Or that one day the parking lot contained only red cars.

These irregularities, these coincidences, are another focus of my artwork.

Packa Pappas Kappsäck, 2006
(Pack Daddy's Suitcases)

The title comes from an old Swedish rhyme and refers to the difficulty of repeating the same thing several times. This time, the repetition lies in differently sized suitcases that fit perfectly inside one another, and thus lose their original purpose.

Kitchen Assembly, 2008
Mixed media: Kitchen table, kitchen chairs, welded metal frame, spraypaint. 
Dimensions: 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.6 m.
Installation view: Strings Attached, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Svolvær (NO)

Half Empty, 2011
Glass table, glass objects.
Dimensions: 0.5 x 0.6 x 0,4 m.
Installation view: Familiar Abstractions, The Flat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)

Domestic Kitchen Planning, 2010

Ghost II, 2009

Monochrome Anachron, 2008

Self Contained, 2010

Self Contained, 2010

Self Contained, 2010

The Move Overseas, 2012

TOYS'R'US - Dinghy scale 1:1, 2006

A boat and related equipment are joined together in a welded metal frame. Everything is painted in a unifying plastic layer to resemble the surface of a model kit. The real boat is transformed into a model of itself, and its original purpose has given way to something else.

TOYS’R’US was made for the exhibition Besökarna (the Visitors) in a new part of Malmö, the Western Harbour, built for the housing fair Bo01 in 2001. The area was developed as a demonstration project to provide a model for future cities. Today, six years later, it still feels like a model. The artificial atmosphere still awaits to break loose from its surrounding plastic sticks.

TOYS'R'US - Dinghy scale 1:1, 2006

Some Assembly Required - Picnic, 2012
Picnic table, metal frames, spray paint.
Dimensions: 1.8 x 1 x 1.2 m.
Installation view: Park12, Museiparken, Karlstad (SE) 

Engine Bought Separately - IV, 2008
Mixer, hair dryer, welded metal frame, spray paint.
Dimensions: 1 x 0,7 m.Everyday objects from mid-20th century housewives are taken apart, sorted, and repacked in an equally outdated boydream esthetics.  These two worlds are merged together and the objects are frozen in their new shape - while the function is displayed, the functionality is taken away.