“There was only a thin wall separating the cell from the world outside. Through a narrow opening between the boards I could glimpse the busy streets, people hurrying past Slussen. I heard the sound of their footsteps on the sidewalk, fragments of conversations and the noise of cars and busses. From this hideaway I felt like an untouchable observer”.
Adams

Sluss means ‘sliding gate’ in Swedish. Slussen is a traffic hub in Stockholm where south meets north. This is where Adams, an extremely secretive conceptual artist, built an underground shed with a hatch in the floor that opened to the underground tunnel in Stockholm. This room was maintained for three years until the authorities closed it last year.

I have become quite obsessed with Adams and can’t stop thinking about his work and wondering what he’s working on now. In the past he has created spaces that are useful, i.e. a shelter in east Berlin, a wooden container for people to drop off things they no longer needed and for others to take them home, and the underground living room he and Itso built under the Central Station in Copenhagen.

I sat down with Jurgen Grosse, the owner of Urban Art Info in Mitte, Berlin. He is showing Slussen auf Adams until September 12th. During the conversation with Jurgen I asked more about Adams. I didn’t get any personal information other than Jurgen and Adams email each other. I thought – ok, all I know for sure is, he is Swedish and has email.

My goal is not to dig up a load of personal information about this private person, but I’m intrigued to come across an artist in disguise–especially when we live in times where people are screaming out for attention from every angle, from Facebook to reality shows on TV. I really don’t care if a friend on Facebook is reading the morning paper and eating cereal or if Jon despises Kate, but I adore secretive artist that are not only creative, but clever executors.

For more information visit http://www.urban-art.info/