Opposite the five horses, there is a multi-panel installation featuring video art by Helsinki-born artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, depicting the portrait of a fir tree.

Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Horizontal, 2011. Photo: My Matson/Moderna Museet © Eija-Liisa Ahtila 2024

Each panel allows viewers to zoom into different parts of the tree, providing a high-resolution horizontal view that reveals intricate details not easily visible in vertical position. This vision of the dancing tree is accompanied by the sound of breathing air. Like the horse installation, this piece comments on themes of strength and vulnerability — highlighting the robustness of a tree threatened by climate change and the powerful yet tragic image of horses frozen in a lake.

Maurizio Cattelan, Breath, 2023. Photo: My Matson/Moderna Museet © Maurizio Cattelan 2024

In the very last room, titled “Cycles of Life,” stands the work “Breath” — a Carrara marble sculpture depicting a curled-up sleeping man and a dog. Carrara marble, renowned for its quality, was favored by iconic Renaissance sculptors. However, the figure in the sculpture could be interpreted as a homeless person. Its placement not on a pedestal but on the floor enhances a sense of intimacy with the audience. Cattelan’s artistry goes both ways: it transforms the mundane into a monument but also makes the inaccessible accessible, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork on equal terms.

The Third Hand: Maurizio Cattelan and the Moderna Museet Collection
Date: February 24th 2024 – January 12th 2025
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 (Saturday and Sunday till 18:00)
Closed on Mondays
Place: Moderna Museet
Address: Slupskjulsvägen 7–9, 111 49 Stockholm
Admission: 170 kr (140 kr for seniors and students)
Tel: +46 (0)8 5202 3500
https://www.modernamuseet.se