• Anja Salonen, “Fluid Arc”, 2023. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Béranger, courtesy of the artist and Loyal.
     

    Paintings for (f)all

    Written by Lina Aastrup

    The art fall season is starting this week in Stockholm with several vibrant exhibitions featuring young painters from the local as well as the international scene. Often smaller in scale and with free entrance as opposed to exhibitions at the larger museums and institutions, gallery hopping is the perfect weekend delight open to everyone. Here are some of art editor Lina Aastrup’s picks for September.

    “Runoff”
    Anja Salonen at Loyal Gallery
    August 17–September 10, 2023

    Los Angeles born Anja Salonen (b. 1994) showers the viewer in watery references in “Runoff”, her first solo with Loyal Gallery. The dynamic paintings take their starting point in public water fountains, exploring water cycles and “the volatile relationship between waste and surplus”. The visual experience is striking with iridescent colours and warped, elongated silhouettes where the monumental and classicist meet digital imagery, sensuality and glitch.

    “Figurative fountains became a tool for me to think about subject/object positions in representation–they’re both stone and body, inanimate and alive, stoic and kinetic. I stretched and elongated the figures digitally within their frames while planning the paintings so perspectival anomalies abound”, says Salonen.

    About the artist
    Anja Salonen studied at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2015 and received her BFA from California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) in 2018. Solo and two-person exhibitions include Arsenal Contemporary Art (with Miranda Byk) (New York), NOON Projects (with Ben Borden) (Los Angeles), in lieu (Los Angeles), Five Car Garage (Los Angeles). 

    “Undulations”
    Patricia Treib at Galerie Nordenhake
    August 24–September 23, 2023

    In “Undulations”, Patricia Treib (b. 1979, US) examines the act of looking through an exploration of negative space – “an opening between a torso and an arm in a 16th century Greek icon painting, shards from a ruined farmhouse in Southern Italy, a 1940s Vogue sewing pattern envelope.”

    Treib’s artistic process limits the time she spends on each canvas to one single day, similar to historical fresco paintings which required the artist to complete their work while the material was still wet. The eight paintings focus on life’s in-betweens by elevating ephemeral non-existence to physical presence, thus subverting the hierarchy of which objects and moments are inscribed in our collective memory through culture.

    About the artist
    Patricia Treib was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at Galerie Nordenhake, Mexico City (2022); F, Houston (2021); Overduin & Co., Los Angeles (2021); Bureau, New York (2020); and Kate MacGarry, London (2019). Treib collaborated with Valentino’s Creative Director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, in his critically acclaimed autumn/winter 2021 Haute Couture collection, presented in the Arsenale di Venezia.

    “The Minus World”
    Tommy Sveningsson at Gallery Steinsland Berliner
    August 18-September 23, 2023

    Gallery Steinsland Berliner opens their fall season with The Minus World – an exhibition of new works by Swedish artist Tommy Sveningsson (b. 1982). Enigmatic winter sceneries executed in ink, charcoal, pastel and acrylic that draw upon contemporary themes while referencing classical landscape painting.

    “The Minus World” glows with neon pink as the sun sets and vibrates with acid green at dawn. The artworks in the exhibition are situated at the very special time of year when rivers and lakes are freed of ice revealing the dark water beneath while the ground is still covered in a thick and heavy blanket of snow. (A scenery also favoured by Swedish painter Gustaf Fjaestad (1868-1948) on view in the permanent collection at Thielska galleriet in Stockholm.)

    In the epic video game Super Mario Bros from 1985, the “minus world” is a hidden level transporting the player under water into a seemingly endless run parallel to the main game narrative. The existence of the minus world suggests alternative dimensions accessible to us through portals to the subconscious or transcendental states of mind.

    About the artist
    Tommy Sveningsson lives and works in Stockholm. He holds an MFA from Valand Academy (Gothenburg, SE). Previous exhibitions include solo presentations at Teckningsmuseet (SE) and Tegnérförbundet (NO) among others. Accompanying the exhibition is a publication produced by Tommy Sveningsson in collaboration with writer Erik Lavesson. The publication exists in a limited number of 50 pcs available for purchase at the gallery.

    Patricia Treib, “Interpose”, 2023. Image courtesy of Galerie Nordenhake.
    Tommy Sveningsson, “The Minus World”, 2023. Image courtesy of Gallery Steinsland Berliner.

  • TG Botanical SS24 Interview

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    An interview with Tetyana Chumak, founder and creative director of  TG Botanical. 

    UL: Please tell us about the process in creating the ss24 runway show?

    TC: Applying for the SS24 edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week was as exciting as applying for
    Zalando Sustainability Prize last year. This season rules and demandings for the participants
    were even more challenging and many brands that have always had shows didn’t receive
    this opportunity. Fortunately, TG Botanical managed to get its access to the Official Show
    Schedule and did its best to prove that the Committee made the right decision.
    Show preparations started at the same moment that we received the confirmation from the
    CPHFW team. From the very beginning we are working with Spalt PR and their help with the
    organization is always tremendous! We cooperated with them and started to find location,
    production items, casting director, models, hair and make-up sponsors, music producer, food
    partner etc.

    We were happy to work with Monpure London as a hair sponsor and MAC Cosmetics as a
    makeup partner. Special thanks to the Rosforth & Rosforth that allowed us to present our
    SS24 collection with a perfectly matched location. It was also a pleasure to work with casting
    director Anja Gildum and Coup de Coeur agency for model casting again this season.
    I would love to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the people who took their part in
    the TG Botanical SS24 Runway, every person from backstage and every guest. Your
    support is my biggest asset and motivation to continue my beloved journey.

    UL: What does the SS24 collection represent and what was the main inspiration for this collection?

    TC: The war in Ukraine has affected and still affects everyone and everything. It is really hard to
    see the beauty when your country is constantly bombing and people are dying…
    That is why TG Botanical Spring-Summer 2024 collection explores the frailty of being and
    the frailty of matter. Today me and my team are inspired by the destructive processes of
    nature and its eternal cyclicality.

    The core of the collection is the styles chaotically stitched with an elastic thread which
    remind the surface of Earth and eroded metal. We also decided to use an “aged effect” to
    bring an organic feel to each garment. This way we enhanced its femininity that is rooted in
    the architecture of a woman’s body.

    I’m always saying that TG Botanical is about “live clothing”.The fluidity of stitched styles make them look like they “live” on a body and are the one whole with it.

    UL: What was the biggest challenge creating your ss24 collection?
    TC:     Since 24th February, 2022, TG Botanical tends to cope with numerous challenges and
    difficulties that are caused by russian invasion. Our production was suffering from the lack of
    electricity and connection, my family’s fields with plants for our own-made fabrics were burned down, the team is working under the harsh psychological pressure from air alerts and military realities…

    It is especially hard to see the beauty when there is a war in my country, but we need to be
    strong and keep working. For us it is a real gift to have an opportunity to present our beloved
    Ukraine on the global fashion scene and we truly thankful for this!

    UL: How would you describe the TG Botanical woman?
    TC: T    he TG Botanical woman is modern, stylish and educated (both in mental and spiritual
    ways). She is light, bright and real. This woman is to create timeless pieces that could be
    worn by anyone at any time.

    UL: What can we expect from TG Botanical in the future?
    TC:     First of all, these are new technologies and materials. However, we will reveal the details
    only during the next runaway (fingers crossed).

    All images courtesy of CPHFW 

  • ZALANDO x BY MALENE BIRGER starring Helena Christensen

    Written by Fashion Tales

    Zalando, a leading platform for fashion and lifestyle in Europe, has launched an exclusive capsule collection with local love brand,
    By Malene Birger. The collection consists of 8 beautiful Pearl White summer styles ranging from dresses, skirts, jackets and tops.

    For this campaign, Zalando proudly presents legendary Danish fashion Icon, Helena Christensen as their brand’s ambassador.
    The initiative brings together two Icons from the Danish fashion scene - By Malene Birger and Helene Christensen, both known for their elegance, sophistication, and empowering spirit.

    The campaign features 8 stills captured by photographer Rasmus Weng Karlsen, styled by Kristine Halken. 

    Zalando Q&A with Helena Christensen

    How was it working with Zalando on this campaign?
    It was a great day, a team full of friends in a wonderful location near the beach and the collection is by one of my favourite Danish designers. We had rainstorm and sun throughout the day and the light was magical. 

    What is your favourite piece from the collection?
    I love the long dress, felt very special in it.

    How would you describe your personal style?
    Bursting with colors and patterns, a mix of very romantic vintage pieces and very straight almost masculine silhouettes.

    What is your key item in your wardrobe?
    Sailor pants and sweatshirt.

    How would you describe Nordic fashion?
    An eclectic mix that more than anything is an extension of the designers’ personality and heritage. Nordic fashion is unlike fashion from anywhere else, Denmark is my favourite place to find new interesting pieces.

    What is your best styling tip for late summer/early fall?
    Big baggy pants and small cosy sweaters.

    What are you looking forward to in August/Early fall?
    The wind blowing, the leaves turning and dropping and me walking outside with a pair of rain boots and corduroys, sweater and umbrella.

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