In connection with the exhibition Robert Rauschenberg: Combines, organised by Paul Schimmel for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Moderna Museet and the art history departments at Uppsala and Stockholm Universities jointly organised a seminar series on Rauschenberg. The themes of the seminars were “Postmodern genealogies: new interpretations of Rauschenberg’s works in late 20th century reception” (spring 2005), “Historic revisits: a close study of Rauschenberg’s influence in late 1950s and early 1960s art life” (autumn 2005), “Genius loci: on Rauschenberg’s influence on Moderna Museet’s identity, and the influence of modern art museums on the production of meaning in contemporary art” (spring 2006). Since Rauschenberg is so strongly linked to the history of Moderna Museet, it appeared natural to focus on him when discussing issues such as the museum’s identity.

The project was concluded with an international symposium in spring 2007, while the exhibition was shown at Moderna Museet. Several researchers had been invited to deliver their perspective on Rauschenberg and Sweden. Material from the research side was published in a double issue of Konsthistorisk tidskrift/Journal of Art History, 1–2, 2007. In addition to articles, it also contains several documents and photographs relevant to Rauschenbergs relationship to Sweden and Moderna Museet.