Digital Nostalgia
By Søs Bech Ladefoged
The young Danish artist Søren Krag’s work is centered on two apparently contradictory things: Religious imagery and technology. By combining ornamental patterns with his fascination for outdated programmes and digital devices, they, however, do not seem too far from each other.
Søren Krag is experimenting within a broad artistic field, ranging from images, installations and video to sound, and performance art, often based on sound. One of his particular focuses is the so-called ‘lo-fi’-technology, such as websites or programmes with very simple architecture, or, as in the case of Søren Krag, Microsoft’s drawing programme Paint, which comprises the fundament for his artistic practice. Due to the programme’s limited options, the paintings achieve a simple and almost primitive expression.
The images are figureless and consist of patterns with strong colour nuances and symmetrical ornamentation that allude to Islamic art and the iconoclasm of early Christianity, where classical religious symbols were banned in the arts. In this way, Søren Krag attempts to unite an old religious imagery with his digital ‘lo-fi’-craft.
In his installation g0=random(4); azimuth, this enthusiasm for religious imagery and technology becomes very obvious. Here, the colourful ornamental patterns move across the screen of three old B&O CRT TVs. The classic B&O monitors are a central part of the artwork and emphasize Søren Krag’s love for the old technology’s heavy and sculptural shape. As a viewer, it is almost impossible not to feel a dash of digital nostalgia.
CV
Søren Krag (b. 1988)
Lives and works in Aarhus, Denmark
Graduated from The Jutland Art Academy in 2015 and studied at the advanced Diploma Program at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, India, from 2013-2014.
Selected shows
2016 The Artists Fall Exhibition at Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen
2016 Projection, Rendevous Curators, Aarhus
2016 KP-Spring, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus
2016 Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
2015 The Artists Fall Exhibition, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen
2015 Site, Art Weekend Aarhus, Aarhus
2015 Graduation 2015, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus