Klara Lidén’s "Untitled (Bench)" is a clear example of her interest in everyday materials, architecture and urban space. Using plasterboard, cardboard and rubber, Lidén has created a bench that occupies an ambiguous position between functional object, building material and sculpture.

The work’s simple, horizontal form contrasts with the raw and makeshift appearance of its materials. The stacked layers of plasterboard and cardboard form a compact body, while the black rubber surface on top clearly indicates the bench’s intended function. These materials are usually associated with building and construction rather than art, but through Lidén’s treatment and placement, they acquire a new significance.

The bench is a recurring feature of public space and has a direct relationship to the human body. It is designed to be used, but in Lidén’s work it also becomes something to be looked at. The boundary between utilitarian object and artwork thus becomes an important aspect of the piece. The familiar object retains its functional character, while its materials and form encourage the viewer to perceive it differently.

Lidén’s artistic practice is characterised by an interest in the city, architecture and the materials that surround us. She often works with existing or repurposed objects and building materials, which she places in new contexts. Her background in architecture has also influenced her exploration of space, construction and the relationship between human beings and the built environment.

During the first decade of the 2000s, Lidén established herself on the international art scene. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Serpentine Gallery in London and the New Museum in New York. In 2011, Moderna Museet presented a major exhibition of her work, followed by a solo exhibition at the New Museum the following year.

In 2013, Lidén received Moderna Museets Vänners Sculpture Prize. "Untitled (Bench") was created that same year and encapsulates several central aspects of her artistic practice in a concentrated form: her interest in architecture and public space, her use of simple materials, and her exploration of the shifting boundary between everyday objects and art.