Project Name
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Posted in
Drawing, Photography
Artist
Ville Andersson
Detailed Information
Project Name.Posted inDrawing, PhotographyArtistVille Andersson

Hidden, 2013ink and pencil on paper, 65x47cm (80x60cm framed)Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Hidden, 2013
ink and pencil on paper, 65x47cm (80x60cm framed)
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

''Without images, melodies or languages worth loving and worshipping, we would lose the ability to withstand existence.''
Ville Andersson

In a world where rationality and ‘usefulness’ have been elevated to the highest of virtues, melancholy and introspection can sometimes pass as a sign of weakness and even social isolation. Finnish visual artist Ville Andersson however likes to think otherwise: a true Romantic at heart, he creates drawings, paintings, photographs and texts with the aim of stirring the darker corners of our psyche as a way for us to discover more about ourselves. His arresting compositions reveal a maturity that is impressive for an artist his age (he was born in 1986), a quality that is also present in the very poetic writing he produces - which for Andersson are an equal part of his artistic output and an important aspect of his creative process. A graduate of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts (2012), Andersson currently lives and works in Helsinki, and has shown his work in many solo and group exhibitions around Europe.

Deep Water, 2011C-print silisecEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Deep Water, 2011
C-print silisec
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

State of Mind, 2012Ink and pencil on paper, 39x55cmCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

State of Mind, 2012
Ink and pencil on paper, 39x55cm
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Dreyer, 2012Ink and pencil on paper, 29x39cm (framed 42x52cm)Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Dreyer, 2012
Ink and pencil on paper, 29x39cm (framed 42x52cm)
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Dreyer, 2012Ink and pencil on paper, 29x39cm (framed 42x52cm)Ville Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}Courtesy of Ville Andersso.

Dreyer, 2012
Ink and pencil on paper, 29x39cm (framed 42x52cm)
Ville Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}
Courtesy of Ville Andersso.

Untitled, 2012C-print framedInstallation  view from ''Jotain Niille jotka odottavat'' exhibition, Kuvan Kevät  2012, the Degree Show of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts (11 May to 3  June 2012)Kuvataideakatemia / Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Kaikukatu 4, 00530 HelsinkiCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Untitled, 2012
C-print framed
Installation view from ''Jotain Niille jotka odottavat'' exhibition, Kuvan Kevät 2012, the Degree Show of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts (11 May to 3 June 2012)
Kuvataideakatemia / Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Kaikukatu 4, 00530 Helsinki
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Untitled, 2012C-print framedCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Untitled, 2012
C-print framed
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Beauty, 2012Museo Max paper on dibond, 2012, 46x50cm (framed 64x68cm)Edition of 5+2apCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Beauty, 2012
Museo Max paper on dibond, 2012, 46x50cm (framed 64x68cm)
Edition of 5+2ap
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Beauty, 2012Museo Max paper on dibond, 2012, 46x50cm (framed 64x68cm)Edition of 5+2apVille   Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM   AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Beauty, 2012
Museo Max paper on dibond, 2012, 46x50cm (framed 64x68cm)
Edition of 5+2ap
Ville Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Stage, 2011C-print silisec, 75x100cmEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Stage, 2011
C-print silisec, 75x100cm
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Passage, 2010C-print silisec, 70x105cmEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Passage, 2010
C-print silisec, 70x105cm
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Lifeblood, 2013 ink & pencil on paper 140x110cmCourtesy of Ville Andersson. 
The only certainty, 2013 ink & pencil on paper 110x110cmCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Lifeblood, 2013
ink & pencil on paper
140x110cm
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

The only certainty, 2013
ink & pencil on paper
110x110cm
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Despite their macabre overtones and Gothic atmosphere, his images are a tender and dignified take on human life: ''For me, the only thing worth studying is the human condition'' he explains. ''It is meaningful only through the creation of awareness, understanding, character, identity: in short, all that involves being human. I prefer to turn to making these images, making use of my own internal feelings rather than clumsily attempting to portray some outside reality.'' Essentially this translates into the artist and his emotions becoming the subject of the art, a quintessentially Romantic idea.  Not surprisingly, we find Romantic literature and Neo-Romantic art amongst Ville Andersson’s influences which include 19th-century Swedish essays, the work of Belgian illustrator Léon Spilliaert, even the introspective New Wave cinema of the 1960’s. This variety of influences is aptly deployed in Andersson’s latest solo exhibition titled ''My Little Empire'', currently on display at the Finnish Elverket Gallery/Pro Artibus Foundation, Ekenäs, Finland (14 February - 13 April 2014). For this exhibition, Andersson imagined what the collection of a fictional art collector would look like, and then set out to create all the works himself as if he were many artists from different backgrounds and styles.

Described by the artist himself as ''projections of darkness'',  Andersson’s images penetrate our deeper fears and biases about beauty and happiness, with the firm belief that above the toil and trouble of human life ''a great peace reigns.'' ForAndersson, there is no beauty without melancholy, a concept that naturally relates to the never-ending cycle of beauty and ugliness, life and death – a subject so vividly depicted in the animated video ‘Beauty’ by Stefano Tagliafierro (which we presented back in January 2014). Unlike Tagliafierro’s video however, Andersson’s images only imply or hint at death and the grotesque. Although the characters in his works may be tainted and sometimes mutilated (with parts of their faces missing, concealed or surreally transformed), they are still however, depicted as youthful and appealing. For Andersson, the grotesque and the beautiful are two sides of the same coin, like the double face of Janus – and coming to terms with that double truth is of course part of the sad together with the joyful; essentially the contradictory life of human beings.

{YatzerTip} Two more entries for your calendar: Ville Andersson is also taking part in a group exhibition at Tampere Art Museum titled ‘Men - Any Feelings?’ (22 February - 16 April 2014). He will also be represented at ARCOmadrid Art Fair (19-23 April 2014) by Helsinki Contemporary (Hall 9, Stand D16).

I have always loved ghosts. They have no bodies. 2012C-print prosec, 2011, 100x77cmEdition of 5+2apCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

I have always loved ghosts. They have no bodies. 2012
C-print prosec, 2011, 100x77cm
Edition of 5+2ap
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Nature Boy, 2010Acrylic on canvas, 20x20cmInstallation  view from the exhibition ''My Love, I’ve never been able to teach you  anything. At best, I can contribute with a feeling'', 2010.Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Nature Boy, 2010
Acrylic on canvas, 20x20cm
Installation view from the exhibition ''My Love, I’ve never been able to teach you anything. At best, I can contribute with a feeling'', 2010.
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I have always loved ghosts. They have no bodies. 2012C-print prosec, 2011, 100x77cmEdition of 5+2apVille Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I have always loved ghosts. They have no bodies. 2012
C-print prosec, 2011, 100x77cm
Edition of 5+2ap
Ville Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I am Visconti, 2012Ink and pencil on paper, 35 x 50 cmVille Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I am Visconti, 2012
Ink and pencil on paper, 35 x 50 cm
Ville Andersson @ Helsinki Contemporary. 
I’M A WOUND AND A SWORD, A VICTIM AND AN EXECUTIONER. I AM YOUR MIRROR. {5 - 28 October 2012}
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I am open, 2013 ink & pencil on paper 147x110cm Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

I am open, 2013
ink & pencil on paper
147x110cm
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Ville Andersson, Simplicity, 2011C-print prosec, 100x75cmEdition of 5+2apCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Ville Andersson, Simplicity, 2011
C-print prosec, 100x75cm
Edition of 5+2ap
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Transformation, 2011C-print silisec, 55x80cmEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Transformation, 2011
C-print silisec, 55x80cm
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Repressed but remarkably dressed, 2009C-print silisec, 70x105cmEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Repressed but remarkably dressed, 2009
C-print silisec, 70x105cm
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Villa, 2011C-print silisecEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Villa, 2011
C-print silisec
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Let the Light In, 2011C-print silisecEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Let the Light In, 2011
C-print silisec
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Reflection, 2013Digital print face mounted on acrylic, 100x138 cm ed. 5 + 2 a.pCourtesy of Ville Andersson.

Reflection, 2013
Digital print face mounted on acrylic, 100x138 cm
ed. 5 + 2 a.p
Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Movement, 2009C-print silisec, 70x105cmEdition of 5 + 2 apBetween Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Movement, 2009
C-print silisec, 70x105cm
Edition of 5 + 2 ap
Between Light & Darkness, Courtesy of Ville Andersson.

Romantic Spirit: Captivating Visual Art by Ville Andersson

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