Conversation between artist James Webb and archaeologist Neil Price

In connection with the exhibition "The Moon Will Not Stay Hidden Forever", Liljevalchs offers a conversation between artist James Webb and archaeologist Neil Price. They meet to talk about the artwork "A series of personal questions directed at a sword from the Viking Age". 

The work is part of an ongoing series in which Webb interviews various objects. In this case, the questions are asked about a Viking sword unearthed from a cairn in Barkarby in 1931, which is now part of the Swedish Museum of History's collection. Swords were important possessions with great personal significance for their owners. It is therefore not surprising that they have served as the inspiration for many legends and tales. What might this sword have done, or failed to do, during its lifetime? What does it think about violence and how Viking culture is used in our time? What does it think about its function today?

Neil Price and James Webb will discuss these themes and how their respective disciplines can learn from each other and what future investigation and research might look like.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear about how historical objects can be activated, understood and seen through the eyes of art and archaeology.

Seating is limited, the talk will last approximately 60 minutes. The ticket also gives access to other exhibitions on the same day.

Neil Price (UK, 1965; lives in Sweden) is Distinguished Professor of Archaeology at Uppsala University, where he also directs the World Viking Age Center (WIVA). He is a leading specialist in Norse history and traditional religions, whose many publications include The Viking Way, The Vikings and The Children of Ash and Elm and the Sunday Times 'History Book of the Year'. Price was also historical consultant for the film The Northman. He is currently leading one of Scandinavia's largest archaeological research projects, 'The Viking Phenomenon'.

James Webb (born 1975 in Kimberley, South Africa) lives and works in Stockholm. In Sweden, Webb's work has previously been exhibited at Konsthall C (2022), Borås Konstbiennal (2021), Norrtälje Konsthall (2018), Historiska Museet (2016) and Wanås Konst (2015). Major group exhibitions include the 8th and 16th Biennale d'Art Contemporain de Lyon (2007 & 2022), the 13th Dakar Biennial (2018), the 4th Prospect Triennial in New Orleans (2017), the 13th Sharjah Biennial (2017), the 12th Bienal de la Habana (2015) and the 55th Venice Biennale (2013).