In the course of the current decade, a number of young artists have come to prominence whose works have shown considerable interest in counter-cultural phenomena – positions and strategies formulated in opposition to society’s norms and conventions.

These include politically rebellious activities, more or less banned underground cultures, or, within the field of art, the historical avant-garde.

With a mixture of fascination and mourning, these artists have addressed the way these oppositional and corrective positions have over the years become part of the established culture industry, in its broader sense. Matias Faldbakken’s creative activities seem to belong within this field.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Matias Faldbakken: Shocked into Abstraction at The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, May – September 2009, and Ikon Gallery, November 2009 – January 2010)

English and Norwegian text.