Can we outwit death? The question has been asked as long as mankind has roamed the earth. Today, research has shown that eternal life is just not a religious or philosophical issue – but it could even be biologically possible.
And yet, alongside the development of more and more advanced methods to prolong life, this is the first time in history that we also have the capacity to end all life on earth. Nuclear weapons are not the only threat. Our way of life is destroying the climate and our chances of future life day by day.
The exhibition Life Eternal reflects on eternity, and thus on the future. It is more urgent than ever to find new ways of talking about how to continue on our journey. In this discussion, the Nobel Prize can play a key role.
By choosing such seemingly disparate award categories, ranging from the natural science of physics, chemistry and medicine to the humanities, with literature and peace, Alfred Nobel created a prize that eventually gave rise to interdisciplinary discussions of exactly the kind we need today.
Over the years, the debate has widened and now embraces many different aspects of human life, together enhancing our understanding of the world. The insights are inspirational and spur us to think freely and ambitiously – and demonstrate what the human race is capable of.
New artwaorks by artists Mark Dion, Niki Lindroth von Bahr and Christian Partos have been commissioned for this exhibition.
The following artists are participating with works in the exhibition:
Anna Dumitriu, Andrea Galvani, Ann Lislegaard, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Christian Partos, Dana Sederowsky, Éva Mag, Fredrik Paulsen, Jillian Edelstein, Jone Kvie, Julian Charrière, Laura Splan, Mark Dion, Mats Hjelm, Moa Israelsson, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Petra Lindholm, Oscar Nilsson, Rineke Dijkstra, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Ulla Wiggen, William Kentridge, Ylva Carlgren, ARTECHOUSE and a joint work by John Wynne and Tim Wainwright.
The exhibition is also accompanied by an anthology of the same name in which over 35 writers develop the theme of eternal life. Among the contributors are Karl Ove Knausgård and Ellen Mattsson.
