{{Short description|Swedish artist and filmmaker}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Nils Claesson | image = NilsClaessonbyJannLipka20166.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Nils Claesson. Photo by Jann Lipka 2016 | birth_name = Nils Taki Claesson | birth_date = 6 September 1958 | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Artist, filmmaker, author and artistic researcher | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = Blåbärsmaskinen (novel), Peering Intoo the Black Box, }}

'''Nils Taki Claesson''' (born 6 September 1958) is a Swedish artist, director, author and artistic researcher. He is currently assistant professor at the Stockholm University of the Arts.

== Biography == Claesson received his PhD in fine arts from the Film and Media Department at Stockholm University of the Arts with the dissertation ''The Ghost Machine: Seven changes and transitions – animation processes in animated film''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIBRIS – Spökmaskinen. |url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/21145951 |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=libris.kb.se |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://libris.kb.se/bib/19923414 |title=Konstnärliga forskarskolan 2010–2015 |date=2016 |isbn=978-91-639-0019-8}}</ref>

Claesson joined the newspaper ETC<ref>ETC. – Stockholm. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/8261711</ref> 1979–1984, where he was a co-owner for a while.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 April 2016 |title="Vi tyckte att många inom vänstern var tråkiga" |url=https://www.etc.se/inrikes/vi-tyckte-att-manga-inom-vanstern-var-trakiga |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Dagens ETC |language=sv}}</ref><ref>Claesson, N. (1996). Sommar. Sweden: Sveriges Radio.</ref> He had acting roles in two films in the 1980s, among other things in Stig Larsson's film Ängel,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ängel (1989) – SFdb |url=https://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/en/item/?type=film&itemid=17124 |access-date=6 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> but he has mainly directed, written manuscript and worked with animated films and radio documentaries. He has been working with digital media since the mid-1990s, and has played a central role in the development of Swedish digital art through his work for the artistic creative space for art and computing (CRAC), where he was chairman from 2002 to 2005.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FHkk5HfkcD4C |title=Cyberculture en Europe Inventaire Sélectif Des Structure Spécialisées Dans L'art Et Les Nouvelles Technologies |date=1 January 1999 |publisher=Council of Europe |isbn=978-92-871-3873-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 2005 |title=Nätkonstnärer tvingas till neddragningar |language=sv |work=Dagens Nyheter |url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/natkonstnarer-tvingas-till-neddragningar/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |issn=1101-2447}}</ref> In connection with this, he established a broad international network, and organized international exhibitions such as "Money, a comment on the new economy",<ref name="Pengar speglas i konst">{{Cite web |date=16 June 2001 |title=Pengar speglas i konst |url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/kultur/pengar-speglas-i-konst/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Dagens Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=pengar |url=http://www.temporaryart.org/money/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=temporaryart.org}}</ref> as well as seminars and exchange projects with other media labs in Europe. He also led the network for media labs in Norway, Pnek 2001–2002, and was one of the artists behind the Association for Temporary Art [a: t] a platform for art online (1997–2007).<ref>Association for Temporary Art. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.temporaryart.org/</ref><ref>Hansson, K. (2015). Accommodating differences: Power, belonging, and representation online. Stockholm University.</ref> He has also been active in the artist-driven galleries Tegen2 and ID:I gallery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2009 |title=Nils Claesson {{!}} ID:I |url=http://idigalleri.org/tag/nils-claesson/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |language=sv-SE}}</ref> Claesson has exhibited extensively in Sweden and Europe.

The book ''The Blueberry Machine'',<ref name="auto">Claesson, N. (2009). Blåbärsmaskinen. Ruin.</ref> published 2009, is about his father Stig Claesson.

== Selected works (2019–2025) == Claesson has produced a wide range of works in recent years, including films, books, and exhibitions, often exploring themes of memory, social change, and urban space.

* '''2019:''' ''Valentina Dobrova's Life'', a documentary project in collaboration with Denis Romanovski. Exhibited at TEGEN2 and Konstepidemin in Gothenburg. * '''2020:'''''Texter som ingen läser'' ("Texts No One Reads") – a book published by Förlag Ruin. [https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1503529/FULLTEXT04.pdf Read online] * ''Peering intoo the Black Box'' – six-channel video installation, solo exhibition at Galleri TEGEN2. [https://www.dn.se/kultur/berorande-tidsdokument-av-nils-claesson/ DN review] * '''2021:''' Group exhibition: ''Work, Life, and Love'' at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. Work: ''Black Painting – White Painting''. Curated by Sara Arrhenius. * '''2022:''' Co-editor of the book ''After Work'', on artistic research and the meaning of labor. [https://sh.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1640598 Source] * '''2023:''' ''Art Takes a Time Out – Five Seconds for Justice'', at TEGEN2 * ''Five Buckets of Potatoes'', shown at Supermarket Art Fair * '''2024:''' * ''An Island'' – video installation exhibited in ''Nutopia'' in Stockholm. [https://www.dn.se/kultur/nutida-utopier-och-dystopier-i-angelagen-utstallning/?channel=tablet DN review] * ''Ro en ko'' ("Row a Cow") – short film in the exhibition ''Islands'' at Galleri Verkligheten, Umeå. Exhibition [https://www.vk.se/2023-09-06/konsten-gar-i-land-pa-verklighetens-oar-98b7a VK review] * '''2025:''' ''An Artist Must Not Be Too Molded'' – film premiere at ''Konsthändelse 2025'' in Stockholm.

== Curatorial work == Claesson has curated several exhibitions at **Galleri TEGEN2** in Stockholm and developed the visual arts program at **ETC Solar Park** in Katrineholm, including four summer exhibitions and a student project.

'''ETC Solar Park (Katrineholm)''' * 2021: ''The Borderless Wild Boar'' (Carl Johan Erikson and Karin Willén) * 2022: ''Move Mountains'' (Lars Bergström, Mats Bigert, Hannah Ljung, Tina Nyqvist) * 2023: ''First There Was Darkness'' (Takao Momiyama, Gunnel Pettersson, Nisse Bergman) * 2025: ''Blue Blood'' (Alexander Mood) * Student exhibition: ''Awesome Ararat'' [https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2128448/2128449/432/548 Source]

'''Galleri TEGEN2 (Stockholm)''' * 2022: ''Animate or Die'' (Assar Tallinger, Sarah Gampel, Emma Hjelm) * 2023: ''Red Lines'' (Elin Wikström and Denis Romanovski) – [https://www.konstnarscentrum.org/anlita-oss/hitta-konstnar/elin-wikstrom Source]

== Academic publications == A selection of Claesson's academic publications are available in the DiVA research portal:

* ''Texter som ingen läser'' (2020) – [https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1503529/FULLTEXT04.pdf Full text] * ''After Work'' (2022), ed. Nils Claesson, Karin Hansson, Georg Kentros – [https://sh.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1640598 Source] * See full list: [https://www.uniarts.se/english/people/phd-students/nils-claesson https://www.uniarts.se/english/people/phd-students/nils-claesson]

== Radio and film == ; Directing * 2016 ''Love and solidarity'' * 2012 ''sliN'' * 2006&nbsp;''Snow – from the white you remember''<ref>Claesson, N. (2006). Snö – ur det vita man minns. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/11371956</ref> * 1998&nbsp;''The little horror movie package'' * 1995&nbsp;''Chameleon'' * 1995 ''People's movies'' * 1995 ''The world's longest Christmas Eve'' * 1994 ''Three minutes each summer'' * 1993&nbsp;''Moon face'' * 1986 ''Man who shaves at Seine'' * 1984 ''The one looking away is a rat''

; Manuscripts * 2006&nbsp;Snow – from the white you remember * 1995 Chameleon * 1993&nbsp;Moon face

; Roles * 1989 Angel * 1987 The Awakening

== Books, book chapters and articles == * 2017 Seven changes and transitions – artistic processeses in animated movies<ref>Claesson, N., Du Rées, G., Hansson, K., Östlind, N., & Stockholms konstnärliga högskola. Institutionen för film och media. (2017). Sju Förändringar och Förflyttningar – gestaltningsprocesser i animerad film. Stockholms konstnärliga högskola. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/21145951</ref> * 2016 We are not yet seeing the results of artistic research<ref>Claesson, N. (2016). Vi ser ännu inte resultatet av konstnärlig forskning. (S. Slöör, Ed.)dialogen : Tema Konst- och arkitekturundervisning. Stockholm: Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Omkonst – Dialogen- Nils Claesson: Konstnärlig forskning |url=https://www.omkonst.se/16-dialogen-claesson-nils.shtml |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=omkonst.se}}</ref> * 2014 When photographs were pictures, not art<ref>Claesson, N. (2014). När fotografi var bild och inte konst / When photographs were pictures, not art. Mellan verkligheter fotografi i Sverige 1970–2000, 100–105. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/21518379</ref> * 2013 The lab: 12 voices about laboratories and libraries<ref>Claesson, Nils, et al. (2013). Labbtanken : 12 röster om laboratorium och bibliotek. (N. Claesson & M. Lempert, Eds.). Stockholm: Stockholms dramatiska högskola. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/14703766</ref> * 2012 sliN, Performing the Common<ref>Claesson, Nils (2015). sliN, book chapter in Hansson, K. (Ed) Performing the common. Revolver publishing. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/20136754</ref> * 2012 The road to Husby * 2012 Introduction to the animated moving image<ref>Claesson, N. (n.d.). Introduktion till den animerade rörliga bilden. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/20844913?vw=full</ref> * 2009&nbsp;The blueberry machine<ref name="auto" /> * 2002 Money<ref name="auto1">Hansson, K., & Claesson, N. (2002). Money. (K. Hansson & N. Claesson, Eds.). Stockholm: Swedish Institute. Retrieved from http://libris.kb.se/bib/11558754</ref> * 1998 The family and everything about the meaning of life<ref>Claesson, N., Julén, Y., Gedin, M., & Elander Berling). (1998). Familjen och allt om meningen med livet : en antologi för ungdomar i alla åldrar. Almqvist & Wiksell.</ref> * 1985 I and Angela Davis<ref>Claesson, N. (1985). Jag och Angela Davis. Fotograficentrums bildtidning, 1985 (8:2–3), [43]-[46] : ill.</ref>

== Art projects == * 2018 You have no choice * 2018 Books no one reads * 2015 Lost and found in translation * 2016 A train to Spain<ref>A Train to Spain. (n.d.). Retrieved 12 September 2018, from http://www.atraintospain.com/</ref> * 2013 The Shadow machine * 2012 sliN, Performing the common<ref name="auto1" /> * 2009 The Contract * 2007 Body in the net<ref>Claesson, N., & Hansson, K. (2007). Kroppen i nätet [The body in the Net]. Retrieved 13 September 2018, from http://temporaryart.org/xxxpressen/</ref> * 2007 SWIZHE&nbsp; * 2006 Video-Dnevnik * 2006 Re-approaching new media, Ram 7 * 2005 Re:production<ref>Hansson et al. (2006). re.produktion. Retrieved 13 September 2018, from http://www.temporaryart.org/re.produktion/</ref> * 2005 40 years of victory * 2004 Solidarity without heroes * 2002 The Pudas Box<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2002 |title=Nedslag/ID:I galleri: Vill du hungerstrejka Pudaslådan tjänar både som bild och som plats för aktion |url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/kultur/nedslag-id-i-galleri-vill-du-hungerstrejka-pudasladan-tjanar-bade-som-bild-och-som-plats-for-aktion/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Dagens Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref> * 2002 Money, an exhibition about the new economy<ref name="Pengar speglas i konst"/> * 2001 The Public Opinion<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2002 |title=Vem är medelmedborgaren |url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/kultur/vem-ar-medelmedborgaren/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Dagens Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref> * 2000 The Art of organising * 2000 The Minsk connection * 2000 Speak to Ingmar<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2000 |title=Konst: Konstens betraktare står mitt i |url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/kultur/konst-konstens-betraktare-star-mitt-i/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Dagens Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref> * 1998 "Say Voff" * 1998 Time Viewers * 1998 Travel to countries that are no longer available * 1998 Opens in a thousand years – a message to the future from Vallhornsgatan in Rågsved, Port * 1997 Movies of the memory (Minnets filmer)

== References == {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Claesson, Nils}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Swedish film directors Category:20th-century Swedish male artists Category:21st-century Swedish male artists Category:Swedish male writers Category:Academic staff of the Royal Institute of Art Category:Artists from Stockholm