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Jason Rhoades

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Jason Rhoades

(1965–2006, was born in Newcastle)

Frigidaire (Cold Wind), 1996

Fiberglass, cabin, lift

Dimensions variable

With support from IKEA

Not far from Wanås lies Älmhult, where IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad established IKEA, beginning his mail-order business in a small, green shop. When Jason Rhoades came to Wanås, he was inspired by the multinational company and had four copies made of Kamprad’s shop; he also painted graffiti on four fiberglass horses. One example of each is still in the horse paddock. Rhoades’ horses referenced folk artist “Döderhultarn” from Småland—Axel Petersson (1886–1925), who carved wooden sculptures—and he combined this style with the graffiti primarily associated with urban environments. He also created an installation from IKEA furniture and carried out a performance in which students at the Malmö Art Academy and the Funen Art Academy in Odense engaged in a battle with weapons and helmets made from kitchen utensils from IKEA. Rhoades’ method can be interpreted as a commentary on mass consumption, and at Wanås, his works connect locality and globality, history and the present, with humor and sincerity.