The same consistent approach and curiosity about the significance of materials has led Ulf Rollof (born 1961) to explore the mysteries of life, whether one’s own identity or an alien environment. Several of his early sculptural works are advanced technical constructions with a certain poeticism. Having experienced the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake in Mexico City in 1984, preparedness and survival became two central themes in his œuvre. While he was living in Mexico, he first came across organic materials such as latex and natural rubber. By combining these materials with high-tech designs, Rollof created very different survival kits. Bellows IV (1988) can be seen as a model for the spiritual and physical equipment that is useless here and now, but wholly necessary in a very different life. The work also presents a critical reflection on our boundless faith in technology and Western scepticism about a spiritual dimension.
Anna Hyltze from The Collection Gothenburg Museum of Art, Gothenburg 2014
