John Skoog
Born 1985 in Malmö, Sweden. Lives and works in Copenhagen.
In his films, videos, and photography John Skoog combines research into history and everyday life with a poetic and fictional atmosphere that is grounded in the film and literary traditions. His work explores social contexts of individuals and communities; unpacking their complex relationship to collective rituals and historical forces, as well as to existential and natural scenarios of transition. Skoog’s works make clear references to mythological iconography; they remind us of the profane origins of myth and in this way they aim to demystify both nature and society.
John Skoog graduated from the Städelschule, Frankfurt in 2012. Recent solo exhibitions include: hamletnosferatu, Johan Berggren Gallery, Malmö (2016); Mad Horizon, in collaboration with Emanuel Röhss, Index – The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, Stockholm (2016); 3 filmer, Konstföreningen ARTiE, Eslöv Konsthall, Eslöv (2016); Palace, Kunstforum Baloise, Basel (2015); Värn, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (MUMOK), Vienna (2015); Slow Return, Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK), Frankfurt am Main (2015); Shadowland, Pilar Corrias, London (2015); LAND, Museu d’Història de Catalunya, Barcelona (2015); L A N D, A Tale of a Tub, Rotterdam (2014); Redoubt, Towner Contemporary Art Museum, Eastbourne (2014); Federsee, Johan Berggren Gallery, Malmö (2013); Sent på Jorden, Art Lab Gnesta, Gnesta (2013); Shadowland, Lampione, Frankfurt am Main (2013); Sent på Jorden and Förår, Pilar Corrias, London (2012). Selected group exhibitions, screenings and festivals include: SWEDISH ART: NOW!, Sven-Harrys konstmuseum, Stockholm (2016); Mixtape 2016, Pilar Corrias, London (2016); SMK Friday, National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen (2016); Busan Inernational Film Festival, Busan (2016); Berlin International Film Festival, Berlin (2015); Fade into you: Cameron Jamie & John Skoog, Kunsthalle Mainz, Mainz (2015); International Competition, Ann Arbor International Film Fest, Ann Arbor (2015); International Competition, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh (2015); Mainzer Ansichten, Kunsthalle Mainz, Mainz (2015); Cold War, Hot Peace, Slought, Philadephia (2015); „I multiplied myself to feel myself.”, Kunstraum Niederoesterreich, Vienna (2014); Real DMZ Project 2014, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do & Artsonje Center, Seoul (2014); Shadowland, Stockholm Film Festival, Stockholm (2014); 1 km film Stockholm International Film Festival, Stockholm (2014); A Time for Dreams: 4th Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA), Moscow (2014); Ars Viva Preis: Truth/Reality – Björn Braun, John Skoog and Adrian Williams, MMK Museum fur Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main; GAM – Galleria civica d’arte moderna e contemporanea, Turin; Neues Museum Weimar, Weimar (2013-14); Taming the Narrative, Basis as a part of b3 Biennale, Frankfurt am Main (2013); Apollo, Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt am Main (2013); Surreale Dinge (as part of et al.*), Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt am Main (2011).
In 2015 Skoog won the 12th Goteborg Festival’s Startsladden, one of the world’s most prestigious short film prizes. In 2014 Skoog received the Baloise Art Prize at Art Basel for his film Reduit (Redoubt), in addition to prize money, the film was donated to two European museums – MMK, Frankfurt and MUMOK, Vienna. Skoog has been awarded the ‘1KM film scholarship’ from Stockholm Film festival (2013), the Hessische Kulturstiftung travel grant (2013), the ARS-VIVA Prize (2013/14), Malmö Art Museum 2013 Art Grant, Aase & Richard Björklund fund, and the ARTFILM Prize, Lichter International Film Festival (2013) and a one year working grant from Stiftung Kunstfonds, Bonn (2014).