Swedish Ecstasy

Sweden may be seen as a Protestant nation of great engineers and entrepreneurs, but the nation's spiritual life has long been governed by a less official current, visible in its art and literature. Mysticism and esoteric speculation runs through the writings of some of Sweden's most important figures, from the 18th-century scientist, theologian and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg to the turn of the 20th-century with August Strindberg, known as a novelist and playwright, but who was also involved in alchemical experiments, occult photography and proto-expressionist paintings that verge on abstraction. In the same period we find visual art by visionaries such as Carl Fredrik Hill, Ernst Josephson and Hilma af Klint. These visions continue to inspire contemporary artists such as Cecilia Edefalk, Carsten Höller, Christine Ödlund, Daniel Youssef, Lars Olof Loeld. With texts by the exhibition's curator Daniel Birnbaum, James Brett, Peter Cornell, Briony Fer, Magnus Florin, Jennifer Higgie, Carsten Höller, Stephen McNeilly as well as Svante Tirén on Swedish Sami culture. Thus past and future come together in this catalogue that examines Swedish artists who have translated their experiences of transcendent spheres into ecstatic artworks.

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Zweden mag dan al worden gezien als een protestantse natie van grote ingenieurs en ondernemers, maar het geestesleven van het land wordt al lang beheerst door een mindere officiële trend, die zichtbaar is in de kunst en de literatuur. Mystiek en esoterische speculatie zijn de rode draad door de teksten van enkele boegbeelden van Zweden, van de achttiende-eeuwse wetenschapper, theoloog en filosoof Emanuel Swedenborg tot August Strindberg rond de vorige eeuwwisseling, die bekend is als romanschrijver en toneelschrijver, maar zich echter ook bezighield met alchemistische experimenten, occulte fotografie en proto-expressionistische schilderijen die aan de abstractie grenzen. In dezelfde periode zien we ook beeldende kunst van visionairs zoals Carl Fredrik Hill, Ernst Josephson en Hilma af Klint. Die visies blijven hedendaagse kunstenaars zoals Cecilia Edefalk, Carsten Höller, Christine Ödlund, Daniel Youssef en Lars Olof Loeld inspireren. Met teksten van de curator van de tentoonstelling Daniel Birnbaum, James Brett, Peter Cornell, Briony Fer, Magnus Florin, Jennifer Higgie, Carsten Höller, Stephen McNeilly en ook van Svante Tirén over de Zweedse Sami-cultuur. Verleden en toekomst komen zo samen in deze catalogus, met Zweedse kunstenaars die hun ervaring met transcendente sferen in extatische kunstwerken hebben vertaald.

Sweden may be seen as a Protestant nation of great engineers and entrepreneurs, but the nation's spiritual life has long been governed by a less official current, visible in its art and literature. Mysticism and esoteric speculation runs through the writings of some of Sweden's most important figures, from the 18th-century scientist, theologian and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg to the turn of the 20th-century with August Strindberg, known as a novelist and playwright, but who was also involved in alchemical experiments, occult photography and proto-expressionist paintings that verge on abstraction. In the same period we find visual art by visionaries such as Carl Fredrik Hill, Ernst Josephson and Hilma af Klint. These visions continue to inspire contemporary artists such as Cecilia Edefalk, Carsten Höller, Christine Ödlund, Daniel Youssef, Lars Olof Loeld. With texts by the exhibition's curator Daniel Birnbaum, James Brett, Peter Cornell, Briony Fer, Magnus Florin, Jennifer Higgie, Carsten Höller, Stephen McNeilly as well as Svante Tirén on Swedish Sami culture. Thus past and future come together in this catalogue that examines Swedish artists who have translated their experiences of transcendent spheres into ecstatic artworks.

Sweden may be seen as a Protestant nation of great engineers and entrepreneurs, but the nation's spiritual life has long been governed by a less official current, visible in its art and literature. Mysticism and esoteric speculation runs through the writings of some of Sweden's most important figures, from the 18th-century scientist, theologian and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg to the turn of the 20th-century with August Strindberg, known as a novelist and playwright, but who was also involved in alchemical experiments, occult photography and proto-expressionist paintings that verge on abstraction. In the same period we find visual art by visionaries such as Carl Fredrik Hill, Ernst Josephson and Hilma af Klint. These visions continue to inspire contemporary artists such as Cecilia Edefalk, Carsten Höller, Christine Ödlund, Daniel Youssef, Lars Olof Loeld. With texts by the exhibition's curator Daniel Birnbaum, James Brett, Peter Cornell, Briony Fer, Magnus Florin, Jennifer Higgie, Carsten Höller, Stephen McNeilly as well as Svante Tirén on Swedish Sami culture. Thus past and future come together in this catalogue that examines Swedish artists who have translated their experiences of transcendent spheres into ecstatic artworks.