Residency dates
30 April – 10 May 2024
Artist Images
Residency Images
Testimonial
"I was at Xenia from the 30th of April to the 10th of May 2024. I arrived with the idea of working on research and drawing quite an open-ended approach. I wanted to read, write, and explore the relationship between my sculptural practice and drawing.
Arriving at Xenia and being introduced to the studio and surroundings was quite overwhelming, in a very, very positive way. The beauty of the landscape, the fantastic studio space offered in the Pavilion, and the hospitality and generosity were wonderful.
The studio is great: it is beautiful and spacious. The light in it and its wonderful views over the old oak trees and the lake make it a wonderful space to think and make.
The view from the bedroom into the forest was utterly soothing, especially in the early mornings and evenings, when rabbits played and foraged, and deer and pheasants were in the distance.
My days quickly found a routine: drawing in the morning, then working with sketchbooks and collages, and going on to reading and writing in the afternoon. Then an evening stroll. And back in the studio for more drawing. It was a time of intense thinking and working.
It was wonderful to be invited to spend time with Bianca and Stuart and to see the gallery's beautiful and thoughtful art collection.
My only regret was that I started developing a cold on my first day of the residency, which gradually got worse and worse during my stay. This, unfortunately, stopped me from exploring the surroundings and seeing as many of my wonderful fellow artists in residence as much as I had hoped, although I did manage great conversations with Silke and thoroughly enjoyed Maariam’s artist talk and event.
The cold didn’t, however, stop me from working.
During my residency, I managed to explore and find new ways of relating to my practice through drawing, exploring mark making, shape and scale in charcoal and pastel on paper. I finished three sketchbooks with collages investigating relationships to architecture, ruins and the body. I filled journals with notes, quotations and thoughts-starting points for new work and new approaches.
Xenia was fantastic. It provided me with time and space to be with my practice completely, to immerse myself in thoughts and making, away from the hubbub of family and daily chores. I came away with a large body of research that will serve me for years to come and drawings that open new ways into my practice.
The stay has left me with memories that have a wonderfully dreamlike quality of green light in the forest, the smell of wild garlic, and the oak trees in the morning fog. Looking for swallows over the lake. The pristine beauty of the studio. The birdsong. And the silence.
It was magical.
Thank you."
Bio
Born
1971,
Malmo
About
Erika is a London based, Swedish artist working in sculpture. She has exhibited widely; recent highlights include a solo show at The Stone Space in London in December 2023, a duo show together with Torgny Wilke at Fold Gallery in London in February 2023, as well as several group shows, including at The Bomb Factory Art Foundation together with amongst others Rana Begum and Marc Wallinger in October 2023. She is currently in a duo show in Puglia, Italy, and will have work in the Croatian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Erika received The Gilbert Bayes Award for emerging sculptors from the Royal Society of Sculptors in 2023. She has a background in fashion and had her own fashion label for several years, with an emphasis on handmade, deconstructed garments, which were shown internationally. Erika has an MA in Fine Art and a BA in Fashion from Central Saint Martins in London.
For more information about Erika, please visit her website.
Residency dates
30 April – 10 May 2024
Artist Images
Residency images
Testimonial
"I was at Xenia from the 30th of April to the 10th of May 2024. I arrived with the idea of working on research and drawing quite an open-ended approach. I wanted to read, write, and explore the relationship between my sculptural practice and drawing.
Arriving at Xenia and being introduced to the studio and surroundings was quite overwhelming, in a very, very positive way. The beauty of the landscape, the fantastic studio space offered in the Pavilion, and the hospitality and generosity were wonderful.
The studio is great: it is beautiful and spacious. The light in it and its wonderful views over the old oak trees and the lake make it a wonderful space to think and make.
The view from the bedroom into the forest was utterly soothing, especially in the early mornings and evenings, when rabbits played and foraged, and deer and pheasants were in the distance.
My days quickly found a routine: drawing in the morning, then working with sketchbooks and collages, and going on to reading and writing in the afternoon. Then an evening stroll. And back in the studio for more drawing. It was a time of intense thinking and working.
It was wonderful to be invited to spend time with Bianca and Stuart and to see the gallery's beautiful and thoughtful art collection.
My only regret was that I started developing a cold on my first day of the residency, which gradually got worse and worse during my stay. This, unfortunately, stopped me from exploring the surroundings and seeing as many of my wonderful fellow artists in residence as much as I had hoped, although I did manage great conversations with Silke and thoroughly enjoyed Maariam’s artist talk and event.
The cold didn’t, however, stop me from working.
During my residency, I managed to explore and find new ways of relating to my practice through drawing, exploring mark making, shape and scale in charcoal and pastel on paper. I finished three sketchbooks with collages investigating relationships to architecture, ruins and the body. I filled journals with notes, quotations and thoughts-starting points for new work and new approaches.
Xenia was fantastic. It provided me with time and space to be with my practice completely, to immerse myself in thoughts and making, away from the hubbub of family and daily chores. I came away with a large body of research that will serve me for years to come and drawings that open new ways into my practice.
The stay has left me with memories that have a wonderfully dreamlike quality of green light in the forest, the smell of wild garlic, and the oak trees in the morning fog. Looking for swallows over the lake. The pristine beauty of the studio. The birdsong. And the silence.
It was magical.
Thank you."
About
Erika is a London based, Swedish artist working in sculpture. She has exhibited widely; recent highlights include a solo show at The Stone Space in London in December 2023, a duo show together with Torgny Wilke at Fold Gallery in London in February 2023, as well as several group shows, including at The Bomb Factory Art Foundation together with amongst others Rana Begum and Marc Wallinger in October 2023. She is currently in a duo show in Puglia, Italy, and will have work in the Croatian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Erika received The Gilbert Bayes Award for emerging sculptors from the Royal Society of Sculptors in 2023. She has a background in fashion and had her own fashion label for several years, with an emphasis on handmade, deconstructed garments, which were shown internationally. Erika has an MA in Fine Art and a BA in Fashion from Central Saint Martins in London.
For more information about Erika, please visit her website.
