Meta Isæus-Berlin: Two Parallel Now
In the atrium of the Stockholm School of Economics stands Two Parallel Now (2018), an installation by Meta Isæus-Berlin, one of Sweden’s leading contemporary artists. Since graduating from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, she has become widely recognized for her installation-based works exploring memory, identity, domestic space, and psychological experience.
Two Parallel Now consists of two rooms placed side by side. One appears worn and fragile, with peeling wallpaper, damaged furniture, and signs of everyday disorder. The other is bright, light, and seemingly weightless, constructed from translucent materials that create an atmosphere of calm and perfection.
The work invites multiple interpretations. The two rooms may be understood as different states of mind, contrasting experiences of reality, or reflections on the tension between ideals and everyday life. One space appears imperfect and vulnerable; the other suggests order, aspiration, and control.
Rather than offering a fixed meaning, the installation encourages reflection and discussion. It reminds viewers that knowledge and understanding emerge in many forms—not only through formal education, but also through observation, conversation, experience, and interpretation.
Two Parallel Now was originally created for Olle Olsson Hagalund Museum in Solna in 2003. At the time, Meta Isæus-Berlin has described feeling pulled between multiple roles and responsibilities. The work emerged from a desire to create a mental image of stability and orientation amid competing demands and constant movement.
The worn room incorporates furniture from the artist’s own family home, while the second room presents an idealized version of the same space. Constructed with delicate organza fabric, it represents a vision of order and perfection alongside the realities of everyday life.
Donated by the Bonnier family and Laurent Leksell.
Photos: Mikael Olsson