C-print proudly presented this February a feature highlighting four artists who in their view are true visionaries in their artistic practices and outlook: Sophie Mörner, Jacob Dahlgren, Anton Alvarez and Alex Mirutziu.
*Follow the minds...
Sophie Mörner
Sophie Mörner is a NYC-based Swedish photographer, gallerist, curator and publisher. Initially setting out to pursue creative writing, she eventually went on to pursue photography at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2004, Mörner founded Capricious Magazine to create a platform for herself, friends and other underexposed photographers. Outspoken about her passion to create opportunities for emerging peers, Mörner has successfully been running a tiny empire under the Capricious brand; Capricious Publishing and Capricious 88 Gallery (recently renamed into Company) on the Lower East Side. In a considerably short period of time, the gallery has made its mark by hosting highly publicized shows such as the first ever solo exhibition of noted Canadian photographer and new C-print favourite Petra Collins.
Openly queer, Mörner's own practice puts lesbian love to the forefront, a well-needed perspective which undoutedly is underepresented in the arts. Her work which often embodies a sense of joie-de-vivre, sees her own community of friends and peers in front of her lens. Intimate, personal and highly evocative. Sophie has previously exhibited in places like Brisbane and Tokyo and her work appeared in notable publications such as i-D, Dazed and Confused and Vice. Later this year, Sophie will participate in a group show, Yesterday we wanted to be the sky, we are curating at Kamarade in Stockholm.
Succesfully juggling her own practice with her artistic ventures while staying true to her core values, we're absolutely delighted to have Sophie as one of our four selected visionaries.
www.sophiemorner.com
Anton Alvarez
A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Anton Alvarez has in the last couple of years proven to offer one of the most distinctive and unique artistries emerging out of Sweden, with a practice intersecting design and contemporary art. His ingenious invention The Thread Wrapping Machine; a tool allowing various materials to be joined together with coloured and glue-coated thread in the creation of delectable furniture and design objects, has garnered sensational and well-merited publicity globally.
Anton was notably also one of the very first artists to appear on the C-print site. Last year Anton presented solo shows at Gallery Libby Sellers in London and Gustavsbergs Konsthall and was also exhibited by Salon 94 at last year's editions of Frieze London and Art Basel Miami. Opening tonight (April 1) at Salon 94 Freemans in NYC is Wrapsody, Anton's first solo show with the gallery.
www.antonalvarez.com
Jacob Dahlgren
For those acquainted with Swedish contemporary art, Jacob Dahlgren needs no further introduction belonging to our most celebrated artists. Breaking the confines of labels and disciplines, Jacob’s disparate body of work intersects Conceptual art, Minimal Art, Abstract Art and Pop Art, blurring the lines between sculpture, painting and installation.
Noted in particular for ingenious geometrical, symmetrical and linear presentations appropriating utilitarian objects and mundane materials, his works exhibit a foray into colours and abstract patterns unparalleled by his peers. On the notion of an intimate link between the artist and his craft, Jacob Dahlgren’s penchant for colours and linearity notably presents itself in the long-term ongoing project Peinture Abstraite which could fairly be attributed as a 24/7 performance where life becomes art and art becomes life. It appears that Jacob has been wearing striped tops everyday since 2001 from a collection of over 1000 tops…Whether he’s using school pencils, weight machines or table lights, Jacob’s presentations always offer a prima facie case of the clever inventiveness of the human mind which sets Jacob apart as a visionary in our book.
Jacob is represented by Andréhn-Schiptjenko in Stockholm and exhibits as well with Workplace Gallery (Gateshead/London) and Galerie Anhava (Helsinki).
www.jacobdahlgren.com
Alex Mirutziu
Currently a resident at IASPIS in Stockholm, Alex Mirutziu, dubbed a l’enfant terrible of his generation in Romania, was once described to us by his gallerist Daria Dumitrescu as “a brilliant, flamboyant mind, juggling an overdressed aesthetic and an exquisite imagery.” For an artist beginning his career performing gender and questioning the power systems confining society and their allusions to language, ideology and discourse, Alex has been well-ahead of the curve as one of the Romanian artists springing out of Cluj; the Romanian epicenter of art. Between his performance and installation works, Alex always brings a probing attention to intellectual and philosophical thought and is currently in the process of preparing a presentation for the upcoming Venice Biennale.
Alex Mirutziu is represented by Galeria SABOT in Cluj and exhibits as with Rüdiger Schöttle (Munich) and Barbara Seiler Gallery (Zurich)
Text/video/photo courtesy C-print