Temu Saukkonen: »Moments of Life«
The content of the paintings balances their meaning on the »knife’s edge« as the animals processed by humans depict not only suffering and the end of life, but also their meaning as food. The animate beings in Saukkonen’s works symbolize renunciation and innocence, as well as human power and alienation from nature. The paintings’ unapologetic realism and straight brushstrokes convey a mysterious threat – but also hope. By the delicate usage of color, the animals are almost painted »alive« and their exaggerated size is used as an advocate to respect every living creature. Spiced with black humor throughout all the art works, the displayed (sur)rational tragedy is compassion, and it is up to the spectator him-/herself to decide how to complement the narratives of the paintings in this »Moments of life«-exhibition.
Ulrika Segerberg: »Collapse« – special guest: matka
Time scatters. We run – but do we hide? Tick tack, the roof is cracking, covering our fur with paledust. Tick tack – how do we react when what we used to know takes on a different shape, oreven falls apart? From whom do we run? We do fly, sometimes. Do we dance alone, or go to sleep with a kiss on our cheek? Since 2016, Ulrika Segerberg and Martin Kleinmichel have collaborated under the name matka, gradually shaping their debut album – each song accompanied by a video. The installation at Toolbox features their latest track »Collapse«, along with paintings and sculptural props used in the video. Frame by frame, the lens captures a search – not for narrative or meaning, but perhaps for those fleeting, quiet moments that comfort us when no one is watching. Martin composed the music and edited the video. Ulrika wrote the lyrics, contributed the hookline, and sang.
Ulrika Segerberg (b. 1976, Sweden) is a Berlin-based artist working with painting, sculpture, video, performance, and music. Drawing from mythology, folklore, and pop culture, her installations combine materials such as ceramics, textiles, sound, and text, moving between figuration and abstraction. Her work has been shown at Västerås Konstmuseum, Deutscher Künstlerbund, LENTOS Kunstmuseum, Dorich House Museum, and others. She is represented in collections including the Swedish Arts Council and Malmö Konstmuseum.
Photo: Still from »Collapse« © Ulrika Segerberg