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Sune Johannesson: ”For Lars Vilks, life was an ongoing work of art”

The artist Lars Vilks, 75 years old, and his two bodyguards died in a traffic accident outside of Markaryd, the 3 of October.
Vilks artwork ”Nimis” and ”Arx” are found in Kullabergs nature reserve. Vilks didn’t have permission for any of the sculptures there. Thousands of visitors come here every year, both adults and children.
When Vilks drew the caricature of Muhammed in 2007, everything changed.
Kristianstad • Publicerad 4 oktober 2021
The artist Lars Vilks, 75 years old, and his two bodyguards died in a traffic accident outside of Markaryd, the 3 of October.  Their car collided with a lorry. The Police are investigating the accident.
The artist Lars Vilks, 75 years old, and his two bodyguards died in a traffic accident outside of Markaryd, the 3 of October. Their car collided with a lorry. The Police are investigating the accident.Foto: Johan Nilsson/TT

”For Lars Vilks, life was an ongoing artwork. Det sad news of his and two police officers death changes this; now the artist is dead but the art lives on.”, writes Sune Johannesson, Kristianstadbladet’s, cultural editor in a chronicle about the artist.

Lars Vilks (1946-2021). Seen here with his artwork ”Nimis” (from 1980), in Kullabergs countryside nationalpark.
Lars Vilks (1946-2021). Seen here with his artwork ”Nimis” (from 1980), in Kullabergs countryside nationalpark.Foto: Malin Palm

Här saknas innehåll

”Lars Vilks was as talkative, as he was imaginative, funny and a creative artist. Not least a free-thinker, who always wanted to challenge and question both boundaries, as well as genres and views”, writes Johannesson.

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All the investigations that were made and decisions that were taken about his art in the nature reserve, he simply incorporated in the artwork.

The sculpture grew in different ways, both organically and as an idea.

Lars Vilks in his residence outside Höganäs, 2010.
Lars Vilks in his residence outside Höganäs, 2010.Foto: BJÖRN LINDGREN / SCANPIX
Lars Vilks during a lecture.
Lars Vilks during a lecture.Foto: Bass Nilsson

When Vilks drew the caricature of Muhammed in 2007, everything changed. ”Nimis” was admittedly questioned and threatened, but when it came to the caricature tone changed. The seriousness, the gravity.

”And with that Vilks' life changed for ever,” Johannesson writes.

The threats against the art now became threats against the artist. The attention became worldwide. The key issues became freedom of speech and democracy.

Vilks continued to claim his right to think and create freely, while he now himself had lost his own freedom. From 2010 he had a permanent police bodyguard.

The artist Lars Vilks tells visitors about his artwork ”Nimis”. The year was 2001.
The artist Lars Vilks tells visitors about his artwork ”Nimis”. The year was 2001.Foto: Stefan Lindblom/SCANPIX
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