Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg's “Dragon on Pillows” is a striking example of the artist duo's collaborative multimedia art, in which they combine sculpture, animation and music to create a captivating experience.
"Dragon on Pillow" consists of a colourful dragon resting on a large pile of soft pillows. The sculpture is one of the characters in the animation ‘Am I Allowed to Step on This Nice Carpet?’ from 2018. The dragon's shape is exaggerated and somewhat grotesque, which is typical of Djurberg's characteristic clay animation aesthetic. The handmade, tactile expression of the sculpture contrasts with the softness of the cushions, creating a tension between safety and danger. This duality is a recurring theme in the artist duo's work, often exploring the intersection between innocence and darkness, between beauty and the grotesque. Berg's accompanying soundscape adds another dimension, enveloping the viewer in an evocative and hypnotic atmosphere. His electronic compositions evoke emotions that alternate between playfulness and anxiety, enhancing the psychological depth of the work.
Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg have been collaborating for over two decades, together they have developed a deep symbiosis in their artistic process. Djurberg creates short stop-motion animations and Berg sets them to music in close collaboration. Animations, sculptures and spatial installations form the basis of their work. Relationships between humans, animals and natural forces are the constantly pulsating theme of their scenarios. Surreal worlds that are often grotesque, raw and absurd with a touch of black humour are played out with Hans Berg's hypnotic music, which evocatively reinforces emotional states and drives the story forward.
Nathalie Djurberg, b. 1978 in Lysekil, received her MFA from Malmö Art Academy in 2002. Hans Berg, b. 1978, comes from Rättvik and is a musician, producer and composer with a focus on electronic music. Today they are both based in Sweden after having lived many years abroad, mainly in Berlin.
Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg were awarded the Silver Lion for their presentation at the 53rd Venice Biennale in Italy in 2009, and their work is in several collections around the world, including the Prada Foundation in Milan, Italy, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, USA, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, as well as in many important international private collections. The duo is constantly exhibiting around the world, and in March 2025 they opened a solo exhibition at the renowned Lisson Gallery in Beijing.