Intervals: Creative responses to space with Johan F. Karlsson

Creating New Spaces: Interviews with artists redefining spaces through technology

In this podcast, you’ll learn how Johan F. Karlsson uses observation, intuition, and the concept of ma to shape site-specific installations that reveal subtle changes in space and time.

In this interview, Johan F. Karlsson talks about the creative process behind Against the day and The space that remains. The installations are part of the exhibition Forever is nothing, developed during Johan’s residency at Space Department, a Japanese residency program that supports architecture and spatial-based art practices.

Johan F. Karlsson is a Swedish artist whose work investigates time, space, and ephemeral processes. His practice spans video, performance, photography, and sculpture. He holds an MA in Photography from Aalto University and a BA in Culture and Arts from Novia University of Applied Sciences.

Listen to this podcast to learn about:

• How the concept of ma guided a process of waiting, noticing, and responding
• How intuition and site-specific observation replace fixed planning in creative workflows
• How time becomes both material and subject in durational video installation

Chapters

(00:00:00) Introduction and acknowledgements

(00:00:38) Exploring the concept of 'ma'

(00:01:21) Artistic process and residency experience

(00:02:43) Creating 'Against the day'

(00:04:37) Creating 'The space that remains'

(00:07:53) Reflections on artistic practice

(00:15:07) Advice for aspiring artists

(00:16:15) Conclusion and farewell

About Johan F. Karlsson

Johan F. Karlsson is a Malmö-based artist whose work spans photography, video, performance, and sculptural installations using natural materials. With an MA in Photography from Aalto University and a BA in Culture and Arts from Novia University, his practice explores time, space, and perception through slow, ephemeral processes. Drawing on site-specific phenomena and the transience of materials, Johan's work invites viewers into a deeper connection with the rhythms of nature and the passage of time. His installations often examine how change and duration shape human experience.

Links from the podcast with Johan F. Karlsson

• Visit Johan F. Karlsson’s website

• Visit the Space Department website

• Read Robin’s reflection on exhibiting at Space Department – House shows: Reflections on space and interaction

• Learn more about Against the Day

• Learn more about The Space That Remains