Elmgreen & Dragset: The Nervous System

A surreal investigation of domestic neuroses by the installation virtuosos Elmgreen & Dragset

Published alongside the artists’ first major solo exhibition with Pace, this catalog highlights new and recent work by Elmgreen & Dragset (born 1961 and 1969, respectively). World renowned for their installation Prada Marfa (2005), the Berlin-based duo have been working at the crossroads of art and architecture, performance and installation since 1995. The book also includes an essay by the writer Martin Herbert, an interview with the duo by the art historian Richard Shiff and images of the immersive presentation The Nervous System, a surreal depiction of a dysfunctional home constructed within the Pace’s walls. The domestic scene on display consists of 12 pieces, 10 of which are new. Featuring various sculptural elements that congeal into a complex set of associations, the exhibition encourages viewers to form their own interpretations. In this presentation, Elmgreen & Dragset have inverted the experience of reading a novel, providing images but requiring viewers to construct the story.