#emma lofstrom

SUSURRATION OF THE SPRUCE

Susurration of the Spruce begins in the northern region of Jämtland, at the family house on the shore of Ljungan. The river was once an important transport route used to float timber from the inland forests to the sawmills on the coast; from there the wood was shipped further south to the capital and exported to Europe. Today plantations of pine and spruce have replaced a great deal of the once vast and rich boreal forest. This project draws attention to the life of the forest and the mycorrhizal networks that are formed between trees and mushrooms- fusing the boundaries between soil, roots and fungi. Interested in the mutualistic relationships that connect the forest through underground structures, the work is moving beyond human exceptionalism. The forest floor with its complex interspecies collaborations tells a story different to that of endless extraction of raw materials.

The project was presented at Wip Konsthall in June 2020, bringing together new works on paper, plant dyed fabrics and sculptures from recycled wood, collectively forming a journey into the world of the forest. The colour spectrum in the exhibition is collected directly from the northern landscape, combining local knowledge with studio-based experiments; plants, berries, bark and mushrooms are used to create the inks applied in the drawings. With a holistic approach to materials and how the artworks are made, Löfström is considering the source and afterlife of each element that make up the installation. The work is informed by field studies, scientific research, traditional knowledge and mythology, as the artist is engaging in a process preoccupied with learning to see and listen to the forest and its inhabitants in new ways.

On the Edge of Time is a project by Emma Löfström that began in the archives of the Natural History Museum. Whilst considering the relationship between natural and human history, the project comments on humankind’s quest to map, name and ultimately control the natural world. This publication was developed whilst in residence at SPACE Arts+Technology/The White Building, supported by Iaspis, The Swedish Arts Grants Committeé’s International Programme for Visual Artists.

More information: spacestudios.org.uk

Graphic design by Johanna Lundberg.

Teaser: Myth of the Cicada The full animation is currently on show as part of Strange Cities: Athens at Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens (GR). The cicada is a fascinating creature that lives underground as nymphs for most of their lives, once they emerge to the surface they metamorphose by shedding their skins and rise as the full grown winged cicada The animation is inspired by a story appearing in a dialogue of Socrates, according to which the cicadas were once men, but intoxicated by music they danced themselves to death and were later rewarded by the muses for their passion. Once transformed by the muses into the subhuman state of the cicada they could dedicate their entire lives to music.

I’m showing new drawings and a short film, as part of Strange cities: Athens, opening today at Onassis Cultural Centre. On show 20 April - 28 June 2015.