Undercentralen (The Sub-Center) is a secret association of about thirty civil servants from various parts of Sweden. For more than a year, the network has made artistic interventions in their workplaces. Small-scale creative acts of resistance have been carried out to process, for example, feelings of frustration and loss of meaning – in a way that is both playful and inclusive.
Undercentralen is populated by those who feel that something is missing on an existential level. The group presents low-intensity activities on-site at Swedish workplaces. Presenting a tug of war between freedom and structure, between personal judgment and regulations, and between emotions and logic. The tension between these poles is charged with energy, and concepts that at first glance can be seen as opposites are instead brought together; bureaucracy and art become synonyms, and new hybrid art forms emerge that find their way into offices, break rooms and corridors.
The activities have been structured as a form of digital correspondence with tasks and exercises. Now, the first year of the Undercentralen activities is presented in a stage performance at Skogen in Gothenburg 6-7 September. The audience is invited to an evening that moves between PowerPoint musical, multimedia learning opportunity, eclectic conference and alternative team building.
Performing participants from Undercentralen: Strapazia (State agency), Erik (Municipal Archives) Kassiopeia (Medium-sized municipality), Ursula (The Rosengård library) Kundklubben (State agency) and Liliana (Larger municipality)
The first year has been accompanied by musician Jon Ekström, who in the various constellations Arvsmassan, Dödsvarg, Signalbolaget, Ekot and Undercentralen has composed music based on the year’s activities: office-inspired pieces of music that range from electronic soundscapes to apocalyptic metal. Jon performs parts of the compositions during the evening.
Where: Skogen, Masthuggsterassen 3, Gothenburg
When: 6 Sep 18.00 and 7 Sep 15.00, 2025
The work is 75 minutes long and is performed in Swedish
Members of Undercentralen: My, Jennie, Mia, Andreas, Maria, Bitr. office, Ursula, Kundklubben, Marcus, Erik, Cathrin, Kassiopeia, Akira, Ida, Helia, Anna, Strapazia, Åsa, Glitterbok, Nora, Nicola, Marina, Anna-Karin, Johan, Cyxos, Liliana, Beppo, Patrik, Elin, Sten and Mattias
The Undercentralen activities are led by artist John Huntington
Image: Marcus, municipal administration / Andreas, performing arts institution / Mia, state agency
The event is produced with project support from the City of Gothenburg (original title: Stadsledningskontoret 2.0) The title of the project was inspired by artist Lars Noväng.
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