“ Interview “
With Jacob Hägg on Collection I “Negate the expexted” and “Negative Space”
What inspired you to start this gallery and blend high and low culture in your work?
The inspiration comes from my desire to question the very fabric of what art is supposed to be. High culture and low culture have long been seen as distinct, but to me, they're just two sides of the same coin. I wanted to create a space where those worlds not only collide but also coexist in a way that’s both unexpected and beautiful. Blending them allows me to create something that challenges assumptions, pushes boundaries, and offers a new way of seeing art.
How did Negative Space come about?
I’ve always been into art but never known how to approach it. The name “Negative Space” came to me one day and stuck—it reflects my raw, minimal approach. Eventually, the art projects for the space came to mind, and I decided to launch it.
You use AI a lot for your current collections. Is Negative Space an AI gallery?
For me, it’s just another tool—like a pencil, marble, or concrete. The drawback is that it’s not physical. But for fast, accessible creation, it works. In the future, I’m open to more traditional methods as well.
There’s a tension in your work between the digital and the physical, between AI and human input. How do you see technology shaping the future of art, and how do you balance these forces in your own creations?
Technology is transforming everything, and art is no exception. But I don’t see technology as something that replaces human creativity—rather, it’s a tool that allows me to expand the possibilities of what’s possible. I use AI to explore patterns, possibilities, and techniques that a human mind might not initially think of, but the final touch, the true soul of the piece, comes from my own hands, my own intuition. The balance is about knowing when to let the technology drive and when to step in and add the human touch. It’s a partnership.
What is your art about?
Stuff I think about—ideas, questions, reflections.
What’s the most difficult part of maintaining your artistic integrity while also trying to disrupt and innovate in a space that is often bound by tradition?
The hardest part is staying true to my vision without being swayed by external pressures, whether it’s industry norms or trends. Art, especially in traditional spaces, can be heavily defined by what people expect to see or what’s commercially viable. But I’m not here to make art for the status quo—I’m here to question it. The challenge is knowing when to take risks, when to push the boundaries, and when to hold firm to my purpose, even if it doesn’t always fit into a neat box.
You’ve mentioned the concept of breaking free from the "matrix"—how does that play into your creative vision?
The idea of the "matrix" is about accepting the world as it’s presented to you—without questioning it. I believe art has the power to break people out of that complacency. In my work, I want to challenge the assumptions we make about reality, about what we’re told is "acceptable." My art invites the viewer to ask, “What if there’s more to this? What if there’s a better way to see the world?” Breaking free from the matrix is about stepping outside the norms and creating your own version of reality.
Your work seems to ask big questions about culture and identity. How do you approach those questions yourself, and how do you see your art contributing to the conversation?
My approach is simple: I reject the idea that culture should be dictated by tradition or trends. It’s about creating art that challenges preconceived notions of what identity and culture should look like. Identity isn’t fixed—it’s fluid, shaped by experiences, surroundings, and constantly evolving. My art doesn’t offer answers; it offers an invitation to question. I want it to be a mirror for the audience to reflect on their own role in culture, their own identity, and how those things can evolve.
How do you navigate the space between art and culture in your work?
Art and culture are so intertwined—they inform each other. My work doesn’t just reflect culture; it questions it. By mixing high and low culture, I am creating a dialogue between luxury and rawness, refinement and rebellion, and traditional and modern. My goal is to show that these lines don’t have to be so rigid. Culture is always in flux, and art has the ability to shape that, not just comment on it. I see my art as a catalyst for conversation—both personal and cultural.
What is the role of the viewer in your art? What do you hope they take away from the experience?
The viewer is everything. I want my art to resonate on a personal level, but not in a way that’s obvious or easily digestible. I want them to feel something they don’t expect, something that disrupts their normal way of thinking. I hope they walk away questioning why they’ve accepted certain cultural norms, or why they feel limited by the boundaries around them. Ideally, my art sparks an internal dialogue—leaving them with the thoughts and questions that they’ll carry with them long after.
Why?
Because when you question, you break boundaries. That’s where innovation starts.
What’s next for you? What’s the future of your gallery, and where do you see your work evolving in the next 5-10 years?
The future is about continuing to evolve the conversation around art and culture. I want to keep breaking new ground, exploring new mediums and collaborations. My work will keep evolving as I do—whether it’s integrating more cutting-edge technology, engaging with different artistic disciplines, or expanding the gallery itself into new realms. But the core remains the same: creating a space where art doesn’t just exist to be seen—it exists to disrupt, question, and transform.
With Jacob Hägg on Collection I “Negate the expexted” and “Negative Space”
What inspired you to start this gallery and blend high and low culture in your work?
The inspiration comes from my desire to question the very fabric of what art is supposed to be. High culture and low culture have long been seen as distinct, but to me, they're just two sides of the same coin. I wanted to create a space where those worlds not only collide but also coexist in a way that’s both unexpected and beautiful. Blending them allows me to create something that challenges assumptions, pushes boundaries, and offers a new way of seeing art.
How did Negative Space come about?
I’ve always been into art but never known how to approach it. The name “Negative Space” came to me one day and stuck—it reflects my raw, minimal approach. Eventually, the art projects for the space came to mind, and I decided to launch it.
You use AI a lot for your current collections. Is Negative Space an AI gallery?
For me, it’s just another tool—like a pencil, marble, or concrete. The drawback is that it’s not physical. But for fast, accessible creation, it works. In the future, I’m open to more traditional methods as well.
There’s a tension in your work between the digital and the physical, between AI and human input. How do you see technology shaping the future of art, and how do you balance these forces in your own creations?
Technology is transforming everything, and art is no exception. But I don’t see technology as something that replaces human creativity—rather, it’s a tool that allows me to expand the possibilities of what’s possible. I use AI to explore patterns, possibilities, and techniques that a human mind might not initially think of, but the final touch, the true soul of the piece, comes from my own hands, my own intuition. The balance is about knowing when to let the technology drive and when to step in and add the human touch. It’s a partnership.
What is your art about?
Stuff I think about—ideas, questions, reflections.
What’s the most difficult part of maintaining your artistic integrity while also trying to disrupt and innovate in a space that is often bound by tradition?
The hardest part is staying true to my vision without being swayed by external pressures, whether it’s industry norms or trends. Art, especially in traditional spaces, can be heavily defined by what people expect to see or what’s commercially viable. But I’m not here to make art for the status quo—I’m here to question it. The challenge is knowing when to take risks, when to push the boundaries, and when to hold firm to my purpose, even if it doesn’t always fit into a neat box.
You’ve mentioned the concept of breaking free from the "matrix"—how does that play into your creative vision?
The idea of the "matrix" is about accepting the world as it’s presented to you—without questioning it. I believe art has the power to break people out of that complacency. In my work, I want to challenge the assumptions we make about reality, about what we’re told is "acceptable." My art invites the viewer to ask, “What if there’s more to this? What if there’s a better way to see the world?” Breaking free from the matrix is about stepping outside the norms and creating your own version of reality.
Your work seems to ask big questions about culture and identity. How do you approach those questions yourself, and how do you see your art contributing to the conversation?
My approach is simple: I reject the idea that culture should be dictated by tradition or trends. It’s about creating art that challenges preconceived notions of what identity and culture should look like. Identity isn’t fixed—it’s fluid, shaped by experiences, surroundings, and constantly evolving. My art doesn’t offer answers; it offers an invitation to question. I want it to be a mirror for the audience to reflect on their own role in culture, their own identity, and how those things can evolve.
How do you navigate the space between art and culture in your work?
Art and culture are so intertwined—they inform each other. My work doesn’t just reflect culture; it questions it. By mixing high and low culture, I am creating a dialogue between luxury and rawness, refinement and rebellion, and traditional and modern. My goal is to show that these lines don’t have to be so rigid. Culture is always in flux, and art has the ability to shape that, not just comment on it. I see my art as a catalyst for conversation—both personal and cultural.
What is the role of the viewer in your art? What do you hope they take away from the experience?
The viewer is everything. I want my art to resonate on a personal level, but not in a way that’s obvious or easily digestible. I want them to feel something they don’t expect, something that disrupts their normal way of thinking. I hope they walk away questioning why they’ve accepted certain cultural norms, or why they feel limited by the boundaries around them. Ideally, my art sparks an internal dialogue—leaving them with the thoughts and questions that they’ll carry with them long after.
Why?
Because when you question, you break boundaries. That’s where innovation starts.
What’s next for you? What’s the future of your gallery, and where do you see your work evolving in the next 5-10 years?
The future is about continuing to evolve the conversation around art and culture. I want to keep breaking new ground, exploring new mediums and collaborations. My work will keep evolving as I do—whether it’s integrating more cutting-edge technology, engaging with different artistic disciplines, or expanding the gallery itself into new realms. But the core remains the same: creating a space where art doesn’t just exist to be seen—it exists to disrupt, question, and transform.