Rickard Eklund (*1987 Stockholm, Sweden)
Lives and works between Stockholm and Gothenburg.
/ENG:
Water, charcoal, mirrors, meshes, plants and sign systems are some recurring elements of Rickard Eklund's art. Often, assemblages of found materials are joined with technology and various graphical techniques in thematic installations comprising several interplaying works. Inspired by mythology, semiotics and sci-fi, Rickard's works often make reference to liminal states or shifts in perception in various ways – through dreamlike visual forms or by intertwined combinations of concepts and symbols.
Rickard has studied at Valand Academy in Gothenburg and the Royal Academy of Arts in Stockholm. As part of his artistic practice, he also designs record covers and music videos, as well as manages and curates the artist-run gallery Upper Hand and is a board member of Gallery BOX.
/SWE:
Vatten, kol, spegelytor, nät, växter och teckensystem är några återkommande element i Rickard Eklunds konst. Verken tar form av assemblage av upphittade material, teknik och olika grafiska metoder och presenteras oftast i tematiska installationer med flera samspelande verk. Inspirerad av bl.a mytologi, semiotik & sci-fi så refererar Rickards verk ofta till övergångstillstånd eller förskjutningar av perceptionen på olika vis, genom drömsk visuell form eller sammanflätade kombinationer av koncept och symboler.
Rickard är utbildad på Akademin Valand och Kungliga Konsthögskolan och som del av sin konstnärliga praktik formger han även skivomslag och musikvideos, samt driver galleriet Upper Hand och är styrelsemedlem i konstnärsdrivna galleri BOX.
Ongoing:
Sept 2020 - June 2021 / Post-master course: Materialities - Coordinates: mapping as translation, at the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm
2021 April 2nd - April 5th, Ellis Eden: Retrospektiv, Group show at KKV Bohuslän
Upcoming:
June 3rd, Group show at WELD, Stockholm
Solo & Duo Shows:
2021 Post-Secular Reflections II, Digital duo-show with Jette Hye Jin Mortensen in collaboration with c4 projects, Copenhagen
2021 Fire Works (with Tomas Ferm), Upper Hand, Gothenburg
2020 Ceres_spacelab, 3:e Våningen, Gothenburg
2018 Here Comes the Water Works, Upper Hand, Gothenburg
2017 Never Again ◎ (with John Salquist), GIBCA Extended, Upper Hand, Gothenburg
2017 Lågvattenmärken, Rehab-shop gallery, Gothenburg
2015 Unknot Knowledge – Hollows & Solids, Gallery BOX, Gothenburg
2014 Why Would a Water Vein Need to Find a Place to Die?, Gallery Rotor 1, Gothenburg
2014 Everywhere Baboons!, Gallery Konstepidemin - Bergrummet, Gothenburg
2012 T2IMIT9O or: Gio’s Dream of an Art Show Transformed Into a White Flame, Gallery Rotor 2
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2020 Decemberkalender, Galleri 54, Göteborg
2020 Ellis Eden: ett retrospektiv, Galleri Verkligheten, Umeå
2019 Currents//Strömmar, Upper Hand, Gothenburg
2019 Cross Worlds (GIBCA Extended), 3:e Våningen, Gothenburg
2018 Velvet Ropes, Crum Heaven, Stockholm
2018 Late Summer Art Show 5, Galleri Konstepidemin, Gothenburg
2016 CYNETART, Festspielhaus Hellerau, Dresden
2016 Forårsudstillningen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
2015 Reconstructing the Archive - Video Art at Valand 1985-2015, A-venue, Gothenburg
2014 Textile Sounds, Borås Textilmuseum, Borås
2014 HOPE: Tourist Center, Ställbergs Gruva, Ställberg
2014 Fast Forward, Göteborgs Konsthall, Gothenburg
2014 Zonen, Gothenburg International Film Festival, Pustervik, Gothenburg
2013 Lost In Space, Vita Havet - Konstfack, Stockholm
2013 DOPET, Ställbergs Gruva, Ställberg
2013 BOS: Seeking Space, Brooklyn, New York
2013 Valand Spring Exhibition, Gothenburg
2013 As if Silence(s), Tjolöholms Slott, Kungsbacka
2013 ESKAPISM, Göteborgs Konsthall, Gothenburg
2013 (In) The Belly of the Whale, GalleryRotor 1, Gothenburg
2012 Whose Salon, Gallery Rotor 1,Gothenburg
2012 Bachelorette Rose Ceremony, Kungsportsavenyn 31-35, Gothenburg
2012 PAINTING FOR REAL, Östergötlands Länsmuseum, Linköping
2012 Valand Fanzines and Artist books, Galleri Vända Sida, Linköping
2012 KUNG FU ART SCHOOL, Rotor 2,Gothenburg
2011 Valand Spring Exhibition, Valand School of Fine Arts, Gothenburg
2011 Superbia Luxuria, Wanda’s/Videolook, Gothenburg
2011 The Polyshow, Gallery Rotor 2, Gothenburg
2010 Do what you have to do with the leftovers, Gallery Rotor 2, Gothenburg
2010 Valand Spring Exhibition, Valand School of Fine Arts, Gothenburg
2009 Drawing so far, Teckningsmuseet, Laholm
Scenography & Installation:
2017 Ensemble Makadam - Durationer, Gothenburg Concert Hall
2016 Ensemble Makadam - Durationer, Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm
2016 Opening Party, Gothenburg Dance and Theater Festival
2015 Ensemble Makadam - Durationer, Khimaira, Stockholm
2015 Palmarum del 2, Palmhuset, Gothenburg
2014 1987 - Popaganda Festival, Göta Källare, Stockholm
2014 1987 - Gothenburg Film Studios, Way Out West Festival, Gothenburg
2013 Xenia Kriisin, Stora Teatern, Gothenburg
Grants:
2020 City of Gothenburg Arts Grant recipient
2018 One-year Working Grant from The Swedish Art Council
2016 The Swedish Art Council Assistant Stipend, assisting artist Haris Epaminonda in Berlin
2014 Project grant PRONTO from The City of Gothenburg
2014 Familjen Wikanders Foundation Stipend recipient
2013 Grafikens Hus - Ann-Margret Lindells Stipend recipient
2013 Nominated for the “Gothenburg Price”, in the Art category, by Nöjesguiden Magazine
2012 Artist Assistant at dOCUMENTA13 in Kassel, Germany, assisting artist Tarek Atoui
Education:
2018 – 2019 Royal Art Academy, Post-graduate "Materialities", Stockholm
2012 – 2014 Valand Academy, Master of Fine Arts, Gothenburg
2009 – 2012 Valand Academy, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Gothenburg
2007 – 2009 Gerlesborgsskolan, Stockholm
2006 – 2007 Nyckelviksskolan, Colour/Form & Crafts, Stockholm
Other:
Founder and artistic director of artist-run Upper Hand gallery
Since 2016 board member of the artist-run Galleri BOX, Kastellgatan 10, Gothenburg
2017-2019 Convener (on behalf of Gallery BOX) of the Iaspis-group, Gothenburg.
All photos, images and artwork on this website by Rickard Eklund, except where noted otherwise.
© Rickard Eklund 2021