The artist creates 'activated situations' in her practice. These involve projects, sited within the public domain, that question the habits, behaviour and opinions of individuals and society in general. Her projects cause a disruption in the everyday flow of events that force us to reassess our understanding of accepted codes of behaviour, value systems and social conditioning.
Elin Wikström creates 'activated situations' in her practice. These involve
projects, sited within the public domain, that question the habits,
behaviour and opinions of individuals and society in general. Her projects
cause a disruption in the everyday flow of events that force us to reassess
our understanding of accepted codes of behaviour, value systems and social
conditioning.
Wikström's projects often centre around a form of transaction or exchange.
For example, a recent project (made for the exhibition Money at the
Kulterhuset in Stockholm) looked at the symbolic significance of money as a
means of exchange, value and control. What Does the Figure Say involved the
artist counting one hundred kronor notes throughout the 43 days of the
exhibition. This action could be observed by visitors to the gallery on a
monitor, while it was also possible to follow the count on a website. The
artist stopped counting at 10,294,000. However, it was unclear as to whether
Wikström had been counting the same block of bills over and over again, or
if she had actually amassed that amount of money during the project. Through
the suggestion of a sleight of hand, the project questioned our belief that
economics is an exact science or natural law. Wikström demonstrated that the
trust that we put in numbers, counting and accountancy is absurd, as figures
reveal nothing about the value of people, objects and events.
Wilkström has recently made projects for DCA, Dundee, and Moderna Museet
Stockholm. Her project for The Showroom will be her first solo show in
London. Elin Wikström lives in Gothenburg and is currently guest professor
to the College of Fine Art, Umeå University, Sweden.
For further information please contact Kirsty Ogg or Bridget Crone at The
Showroom on 020 8983 4115.
The Showroom is financially assisted by Arts Council England, London Office.
Project supported by the Academy of Fine Art, Umea University, Sweden.
Opening sponsored by Hoegaarden.
Mary Jane Aladren, Tim Allen, Adelaide Bannerman, Claire Barclay, Jordan
Baseman, Iwona Blazwick, Pavel Büchler, Sarah Carrington, Paul Collett,
Laura Emsley, ezppl, Peter Fillingham, Rose Finn-Kelcey, FlatPack001,
Rebecca Fortnum, Eric Franck, Frieze, David Gilmour, Simon Grant, Jackie
Haliday, Ceri Hand, Margot Heller, Margot & Fergus Henderson, Paul Hobson,
Martin Holman, Claire Hooper, Martin Hopkinson, Matthew Hunt, Sue Jones,
Franz Koenig, Kate MacGarry, Lynn MacRitchie, Anna Milsom, Moose Foundation
for the Arts, Dave Muller, Paul Nicholson, Kristine Nielsen, Campbell &
Mairi Ogg, Harry Onslow, Michael O¹Pray, Maureen Paley, Sarah Pulvertaft,
Alison Raftery, Craig Richardson, Signwave, John Slyce, Simon Starling,
Straylight, Eva Tait, David Thorp, Transmission Gallery, Catherine Ugwu,
Isabel Vasseur, Marc Vaulbert de Chantilly, Grant Watson and White Window
are all actively supporting the work of the gallery by joining The
Showroom's Friends Scheme.
Opening 29 June 19.00 Â 21.00hrs
The Showroom 44 Bonner Road London E2 9JS
Nearest tube Bethnal Green on the Central Line. Buses 26, 48, 55, 106, 253,
254, 307, D3, D6.
Overground to Cambridge Heath.