Precisely because of the duo’s “cool buddies” image the two may sometimes fail to move the spectator – they simply seem too distanced. For this reason, Elmgreen and Dragset are at their best when they dare to be close and personal, as for instance in the work The incidental self, where they have filled a room with framed black and white snapshots. Here we get a feeling of witnessing the artists’ own photo albums. We stroll along rows of photos where snapshots of the two as children are mixed with images of naked men posing. One gets an impression of an underlying narrative, a narrative that in many ways seem to be rich in conflicts. After an idyllic childhood and a rebellious youth – where are we now? This lucky move succeeds in bringing about ambiguous feelings in the audience. One is curious and at the same time embarrassed, and as is the case with Powerless structures, the work leaves us perplexed. And yet this is still a more thorough and deeply felt treatment of the themes that are introduced.
The great strength of this exhibition is the way it makes use of well-known symbols such as rooms, doors and keys. These symbols are used in manners that are both relatively innovative and discreetly beautiful, causing the spectators’ thoughts to wander, particularly to moments in our childhood and youth when we felt imprisoned or shut out. The questions concerning what lies behind the locked doors are left unanswered, but the joy of wondering remains. Giving someone the keys to one’s home is an act of trust, and this visit is one we will remember, particularly because the home that we are invited to visit is not of the “Home, dear home” kind. The two artists have succeeded in creating a sense of uneasiness in their treatment of the home-theme, a disquiet that reminds us of how the conflicting forces of safety and invasion are simultaneously at work in domestic relationships. Therefore the two stars of the art scene shine most brightly when they do not hide behind superficial structures but rather open up the door to private rooms.