Jan Håfström: Sent på jorden (Late on Earth)

The title references a poem by Gunnar Ekelöf. Sent på jorden brings together a number of individual works, some of which have previously been exhibited at the Venice Biennale.

Among the works is Skolan i Aten (The School of Athens), a free interpretation of Raphael’s famous 16th-century fresco depicting philosophers and thinkers from antiquity. The work reflects on the intellectual traditions that continue to shape higher education, including critical thinking, the pursuit of knowledge, and open dialogue. In Håfström’s interpretation, these themes become reflections on education, curiosity, and the development of society.

Another work, Vad är det jag ska vittna om? (What Shall I Bear Witness To?), addresses questions of responsibility, observation, and the role of the individual as a witness in society.

The installation also includes a series of objects and fragments that function like traces within a larger narrative. Together, they evoke ideas of memory, history, and interpretation. The corridor becomes a space where different times, stories, and perspectives intersect.

Photo: Mikael Olsson