Black Iris - Explosive Vision

“Explosive Vision” takes place at Gasverket, designed by Ferdinand Boberg in 1903, a venue of both social and historical significance, inviting visitors to an exhibition where past and present intertwine.

The exhibition is a playful encounter between Black Iris’s wide-open pupil and the weathered Gas House, in an intoxicating, gas-powered blend of forward-looking visions resonating with the deteriorating surroundings. The industrial site is transformed into a laboratory for artistic experimentation and with gas as a catalyst the artworks reflect on altered states of mind and the impermanence of existence.

Previously, Gasverket served as a gathering place where Stockholm residents collected their gas tokens. Today, the Black Iris collective combines the site’s history with the contemporary art scene, resulting in a bold collision of old and new. From neon lights to the rhythmic hum of machinery, gas is an often-overlooked element of our environment. Like a ubiquitous and ephemeral gas, the artworks ignite fleeting moments and preserve them for eternity.

Featured artists are Maria Nordin, Gunilla Klingberg, Johan Thurfjell, Matthias van Arkel, Stefan Otto, Anneè Olofsson, Juan Pedro Fabra Guemberena, Anna Camner, Ulrika Sparre, Marcus Mårtenson, Julia Peirone, and Éva Mag.

Special Thanks to Stockholm Art Week, Samsung, Castellum, ArtMove, ISH, Erik Åström, and Peter Sellberg.

More info: stockholmartweek.se

The exhibition “Explosive Vision” at the Gas Works (May – June 2023) attracted over 2,000 visitors and received positive reviews and coverage in leading Swedish newspapers and art magazines.

SPOTLIGHT

Black Iris – Skygazing at Riche Fenix

SKYGAZING - Black Iris at the Fenix. Götgatan 40, Stockholm, Sweden. 22 August -16 September 2023.

The exhibition Skygazing at Riche Fenix features artworks from Black Iris Artists: Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Johan Thurfjell, and Marcus Mårtenson.

The expansive pupil of the Black Iris is fixed on the Phoenix bird soaring in the sky, lifted by the vitality of the artwork and art’s capacity to infuse eternal existence.

Skygazing invites you to a doorway between myth and reality, between the human eye and the legendary Phoenix. The Phoenix, a creature steeped in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese mythology, has come to symbolize rebirth, renewal, and the cycle of life. Just as the Phoenix rises from its ashes, our perception and understanding of the world can undergo a constant, transformative rebirth through the power of our gaze.

In this group exhibition, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Johan Thurfjell, and Marcus Mårtenson explore the connection between the Phoenix and the concept of resurrection, a theme that resonates deeply with the human experience. The Phoenix’s cyclical existence, coming back to life, mirrors the transformative journey of the human spirit and the undying quest for renewal.

Special Thanks to Svenska Brasserier and Carl Carboni.

Since its inception, Black Iris has moved from strength to strength. Artwork from the artists on the platform is continuously displayed at Stockholm’s art scene. Under the Black Iris flag, one of the most attention-grabbing exhibitions was held this spring, Black Iris took over Gasverket during Stockholm Art Week. It was an extensive installation, a forward-looking vision that ignited a dynamic energy and resonated with the spectacular surroundings. Black Iris has previously exhibited at Alma, and continues to be a driving force on the art scene, and it is therefore extra exciting for Fenix to show the exhibition Skygazing.

- Carl Carboni

More info: riche.se/fenix