Running recurringly in Mette Björnberg’s sculptural body of work, spanning almost twenty years, is the ability to present more than initially meets the eye. With a keen command of materiality and colour, her works are attributed a near physical presence, pulling the viewer in for a closer glance, almost compelling you to touch and feel the works. Though they may at first appear joyful, Mette Björnberg’s sculptures are in fact deceivingly so, often representing an autobiographical extension of the artist herself; mirroring the artist’s inner mentality and emotions. Short, yet evocative titles hint at a larger and more nuanced scene begging to be unfolded, thereby possibly altering and rebutting an initial perception of the presented work.
 

At Galleri Thomas Wallner, Mette Björnberg presents two eponymously titled sculptures, “Before it All Falls I&II”. Within the intimate confines of the room, the two towering sculptures intentionally and unapologetically command their space. Bearing their titles in mind, the pair presents an allegory of the never-ending balancing act of life itself. For all the effort that goes into keeping everything on track, chaos perhaps never lies too far away. On a slightly more literal note, the title also nods to the underlying technical arrangements put in place in order to defy the impossibility of keeping the sculptures firmly on the ground.
 

The founding steel rods which are entirely concealed have been embellished with figurative components, some of which are familiar from past works and have become characteristic for Mette Björnberg’s sculptures, and extend a play on shapes to the works on display. Symbolically, they resonate with various aspects of life’s journey. As such, floral components tell of growth; books, of insight and knowledge; and the mirror, of self. A braid of hair mounted at the very top of one the two sculptures, indicative of youth and beauty, cleverly offers an explanation on which fall, or rather, end is ultimately in contention here.
Ashik and Koshik Zaman (C-print)

Mette Björnberg graduated from Malmö Art Academy in 1996, and lives and works in Södra Mellby. Mette Björnberg has been represented by Galleri Magnus Karlsson in Stockholm for many years and last presented a solo exhibition, “Breathing Space” with the gallery in 2013. Mette Björnberg has previously exhibited with Galleri Thomas Wallner on a number of occasions, most recently in the group exhibition “Polyfoni 2” earlier in 2014.