Following the waves: a free contemporary art exhibition at the Swedish Institute, our photos

New free exhibition at theSwedish Institute. After the magnificent installation devoted to the work of Sara-Vide Ericson, the Scandinavian cultural center nestled in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris invites us to " Suivre les ondes" (Follow the waves ) from March 8 to June 16, 2024.

For this new exhibition, theSwedish Institute presents a selection of works - some previously unseen - by Lars Fredrikson in dialogue with those of two contemporary artists, Anastasia Ax and Christine Ödlund.

Lars Fredrikson studied art in France, where he remained until the end of his life. Little-known in his native country and in France, the artist - who was born in Stockholm in 1926 and died in 1997 - nonetheless left his mark with works at the crossroads of sound and poetry, sculpture and movement.

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This spring, images and sculptures, poetry and readings, as well as animated objects, movement and sound, intermingle at theSwedish Institute in an exhibition entitled " Following the Waves ". Expressions in which Anastasia Ax and Christine Ödlund are accustomed to evolving.

Visitors to the " Suivre les ondes " exhibition can admire some fifty works, including twenty by Lars Fredrikson, a true jack-of-all-trades. Taking over the whole of the sublime Hôtel de Marle, and even taking over the gardens, the exhibition reveals the full extent of Lars Fredrikson's talent. From his watercolors, which would accompany him throughout his career, to his famous hammered and folded stainless steel sheets, visitors are immersed in the rich and varied work of this artist, considered by his son to be the first"hacker" in history. The proof is in his drawings recorded on electrosensitive paper. For the record, it was in the 1970s that Lars Fredrikson began producing works using the fax technique, after buying and tampering with a fax device from the army.

After a retrospective exhibition at Nice's MAMAC (2019-2020), Lars Fredrikson 's work is back in the spotlight this spring thanks to theSwedish Institute. An opportunity to discover his innovative approach to materials and art.

In addition to the work of Lars Fredrikson, we also discover the intriguing electro-acoustic plant installations of Christine Ödlund (born 1963 in Sweden). It's not for nothing that Christine Ödlund studied music composition at theElektronmusikstudion(EMS) in Stockholm. Thanks to this solid background and knowledge, Christine Ödlund creates multidisciplinary works, drawing on knowledge, science and esotericism. Proof of this is the installation unveiled in the Institut's garden, through which the artist attempts to determine the reaction of plants to the emission of specific signals, such as Led Zeppelin or classical music. Several of his paintings (oil, acrylic, plant pigment and pencil) can also be admired at this exhibition.

We close with the very contemporary work of Greek-born Swedish artist Anastasia Ax (b. 1979). Blending drawing and painting with sculpture and installation, Anastasia Ax likes to interact her body in highly physical performances, which she describes as"interventions".

For this exhibition at theSwedish Institute, artist Anastasia Ax focuses on the transformation of matter, the transfer of energy, impulses and destruction. The garden of the Hôtel de Marle unveils the installation"Settlers", an imposing construction in light concrete and iron oxide, which will evolve over the months, according to the weather, the sun, animal and plant visits, as well as the artist's announced interventions. The artist is also exhibiting his famous lacerated plasters at theSwedish Institute.

From March 8 to June 16, 2024, you can discover these contemporary works free of charge at the Swedish Institute in Paris!Follow the Waves" is part of the Swedish Institute's new contemporary art program. Visit the official website to discover the performances and other events organized at the Swedish Institute in connection with this exhibition.

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