Rest your little head and tell me about the past - first show at reopened Culture Center in Alingsås

The Culture Center in Alingsås has been closed for renovation for a while; in June it reopened with a remodeled art space and library. There are sadly few art spaces and galleries in the little town of Alingsås, but there are some institutions that have exhibitions with mostly local artists, and I hope that the reopened art gallery at the Culture Center will pursue work like that and maybe open up for international artists. With the new gallery being bigger I hope that more focus can be put on art in Alingsås in the future.

The first exhibition to open in the new space is called Rest your little head and tell me about the past by artist Patrik Bengtsson. Bengtsson is living in the southern archipelago of Gothenburg and has had exhibitions in Sweden and Europe. The exhibition is composed of three different parts, and it might even be accurate to call the work an installation. The most prominent part of the exhibition is the 1:1 scale Brontosaurus sculpture made out of fabric that is laying on the ground with a big fluffy pillow under its head. The wall to the right of the Brontosaurus is decorated with a motif from space, and on the other wall to the left is a kind of speaker-system installed. The sound coming from the round speakers is a sort of low humming which really sets the mood in the gallery. Behind the same wall is a sort of mini-installation with different materials in a pattern.

The life-size Brontosaurus by artist Patrik Bengtsson. Photo: Frida Berntson

The sign reads "Be careful, the sculpture is fragile, but gentle petting is okay." Photo: Frida Berntson

Bengtsson’s installation is about history, truth and storytelling. The Brontosaurus is signifying all of that with its existence being questioned and the story of its origin being changed throughout the past centuries. The humming sound from the speakers is actually re-edited famous speeches from youtube videos. You start to contemplate the very concept of time after a while, the contrast between the Brontosaurus and speeches of politicians is stark. You also realize that it is important to sometimes stop and think about the truths of the past, which I think is the main message of the entire exhibition.

The information that was provided on the wall at the exhibition. Photo: Frida Berntson

Wall installation by Patrik Bengtsson. Photo: Frida Berntson

The wall with the speakers. Photo: Frida Berntson

The exhibition was dynamic with the focus on space and form, but I can’t deny the lack of information that was provided by the gallery. A paragraph of text was placed on the wall but the information was vague and nothing was said about the artist, style influences, materials or anything like that. For an exhibition with this type of existential theme I think it would be necessary with enough information so the visitor can move around the installation and understand the pattern. When I was walking around the space I was a little confused, wondering what everything really meant. There were some papers with more information at the venue but it was organized as long essays, which is not that approachable for the average viewer. I did really like the sign in front of the Brontosaurus though, and the exhibition is excellent for children. Of course you can make the installation your own, without information, but since the artist had a special message I think more accessible information should have been provided.

You can find information about the new Culture Center and exhibition here, sadly only in Swedish.