Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg

Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg are a Swedish artist duo known for their collaborative work that blends stop-motion animation, sculpture, and sound to create darkly surreal, psychologically intense, and often unsettling narratives. Djurberg, born in 1978, primarily handles the visual side, crafting intricate claymation-like animations that explore complex human emotions, desires, and fears. Hans Berg, born in 1978, is a composer and musician who creates the evocative soundscapes that accompany Djurberg’s animations, enhancing the emotional depth and atmosphere of their work. Together, they create immersive, multi-sensory experiences that challenge viewers to confront the darker aspects of human behavior. The duo’s work often delves into taboo subjects, such as power dynamics, sexuality, violence, and desire, presented through seemingly innocent clay figures in dreamlike, exaggerated environments. Djurberg’s animations have a playful, almost childlike quality, but they quickly take on a more sinister tone as the narratives unfold, revealing the complexities and contradictions of human nature. This juxtaposition between the familiar and the grotesque draws viewers into a space where they must confront their own discomfort, often provoking intense emotional responses.Berg’s music plays a crucial role in shaping the mood of their work, with rhythmic, hypnotic electronic compositions that heighten the sense of unease or mystery. The synergy between Djurberg’s visual storytelling and Berg’s atmospheric soundscapes creates a cohesive experience that immerses viewers in the unsettling, surreal worlds they construct. Their animations often loop, creating a sense of endless repetition and entrapment that mirrors the emotional and psychological states they explore.One of their most acclaimed works, The Experiment (2009), presented at the Venice Biennale, exemplifies their ability to merge dark themes with a whimsical aesthetic. The installation featured a series of stop-motion animations paired with sculptures and sound, exploring human vulnerability, deviant behavior, and the thin line between fantasy and reality. Their work’s dreamlike quality, combined with the disorienting effects of the music, creates a deeply immersive experience that invites reflection on the human psyche.Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at prestigious institutions like the New Museum in New York, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and the Moderna Museet in Stockholm. Their unique fusion of animation, sculpture, and music has positioned them as leading figures in contemporary art, known for their ability to evoke powerful, often uncomfortable emotions while pushing the boundaries of narrative and sensory experience in their installations.