A curation of Nordic Art and Design

Supported by

The London House of Modernity at 14 Cavendish presents: a curation of Nordic Art and Design

“It is really interesting to be showing our own pieces from Nordic artists from the 20th century, alongside iconic furniture, lighting, and textiles from the same era. We are also delighted to display work from artists who are still working, such as David Svensson and Charlotte Birnbaum. After various collaborations with other art galleries, it just feels right to pair our Nordic art collection with Nordic design that already works so well with the architecture of 14 Cavendish Square” - Andrew Duncanson, director and owner of Modernity.

“It was only natural to use the magnificent architecture of 14 Cavendish to show our own collection of twentieth century and contemporary Nordic art. We have managed to group works in rooms by each particular artist, with the hope that this will help educate visitors and build a familiarity around the works. One of my personal favourites is Rune Hagberg, who produced ink drawings inspired by calligraphy. These can be viewed on the second floor” - Sebastien Holt, director of Modernity in London.

“At the Swedish Embassy we want to share the finest Swedish – and Nordic – art and design with the UK. We know that there is a keen interest in our internationally renowned designers, and that we have something to offer. Thanks to Modernity you can now enjoy some of these exquisite examples of 20th century furniture and art in an absolutely wonderful setting at Cavendish Square, central London” - Torbjörn Sohlström, Swedish Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Ground floor

Featuring:

Sven Hansson 1927 - 2014

Working in a purely geometric, non-figurative style, Sven Hansson was a Swedish painter who is now represented in various municipalities in his home country, including the Museum of Modern Art. His gouache, oil, and relief pieces throughout the 1970’s to late 90’s are quietly expressive forms of contemporary art, on occasion using vibrant colour, many examples pure white and therefore reliant on natural light and the resulting shadows.

Painting by Sven Hansson, Sweden. 1978.

From the artist’s family.

Title of works, artist, date.

Painting by Sven Hansson, Sweden. 1980’s.

Painting by Sven Hansson, Sweden. 1980.

From the estate of the artist.

Painting by Sven Hansson, Sweden. 1990’s-2000’s. From the estate of the artist.

Painting by Sven Hansson, Sweden. 1982. From the collection of the artist’s family

Sculpture “Amazon Pistil” by Eric Grate, Sweden. 1931. Unique.

From the collection of Swedish art historian and artist Ragnar von Holten.

Ground floor

Featuring:

Harry Booström 1917 - 1996

Harry Booström’s abstract compositions from the 1950’s are a visual and geometric marvel, switching from abstract, to concretist and geometric shapes. His compositions achieve both dynamics and movement through this interplay of form and colour – “Mural II”, 1953, is a fantastic example of this. Currently forming part of our collection, Booström himself can be seen pictured in front of it at the Artists of Söder Exhibition of 1955.

Title of works, artist, date.

Painting by Harry Booström, Sweden. 1953.

From private collection of William and Maud Appelquist, Gotland. Bel’Art Gallery, Stockholm.

Painting “Mural II” by Harry Booström, Sweden. 1953.

Shown with Harry Booström at the Artists of Söder Exhibition, 1955.

From private collection of William and Maud Appelquist, Gotland. Galerie Bel’Art, Stockholm. Other exhibitions: Norrköping Art Museum, “Harry Booström - Avantgarde and concretism”, March 21 - June 14, 2015.

Painting “No. II” by Harry Booström, Sweden. 1953.

From private collection of William and Maud Appelquist, Gotland. Bel’Art Gallery, Stockholm. Other exhibitions: Norrköping Art Museum, “Harry Booström - Avantgarde and concretism”, March 21 - June 14, 2015.

Painting by Harry Booström, Sweden. 1953.

From private collection of William and Maud Appelquist, Gotland. Bel’Art Gallery, Stockholm.

Painting “Endless wall” by Einar Höste, Sweden. 1986.

First floor

Featuring:

Vivi Calissendorff 1930 - present

Vivi Calissendorff is nothing short of a marvel, the 90-year-old Swedish ceramist still producing works of art well into her eighties, and now deservedly represented in the National Museum, Stockholm. In the early 2010’s she sold her turntable and kiln - but without planning it, she had opened the door to another series of work from the burnt and glazed remains left in her workshop. The collection of pieces on display at the London House of Modernity are a stunning variety of both warm-toned, nature-inspired reliefs, and simple white mounted shapes that appear suspended and alive under the influence of shadow.

Ceramic relief “Sinnligt” by Vivi Calissendorff, Sweden, early 2000’s.

Ceramic relief, Untitled, by Vivi Calissendorff, Sweden, early 2010’s.

Ceramic relief “I like your shapes”, designed by Vivi Calissendorff, Sweden. 2014.

Ceramic relief “Sandwich stones” by Vivi Calissendorff, Sweden, early 2000’s.

First floor

Featuring:

Charlotte Birnbaum 1960 - present

Charlotte Birnbaum’s glass sculpture series, “Plataeux”, is the Swedish artist and food connoisseur’s latest work, that pays homage to the genius of Antoine Carême. Extremely delicate in nature, and to be handled with care, they represent an attempt to revitalize a long forgotten cultural history of an art for the table during the Renaissance and the Baroque: “Consider the swans and the gilded pies, the candied fruit pyramids, the pâtés, the intricate creations made of folded linen, the table fountains pouring perfume and most importantly, the sumptuous and ornate sugar sculptures. These centrepieces may have pleased the palate, but they were mainly intended to be a feast for the eye. They were luxurious, fragile, extremely expensive objects. And they were perfect conversation pieces – something to talk about during the meal. They also provided ample opportunities for the learned guests to show off their knowledge of symbolism and allegorical references.”

First floor

Featuring:

Mogens Andersen 1916 - 2003

Mogens Andersen’s works are masterful examples of contrast and colour play, varying wildly from image to image. His main interests lay in French Modernism, and he would spend long periods of time in Paris until 1964, his friendships with Pierre Soulages and Jean Bazaine allowing him to develop his signature dark arabesques. After settling back in his home country of Denmark, he would continue to work until he lost all sight at the age of 82. During this lengthy career, Andersen would receive the Eckersberg medal Thorvalsden medal, among various other honours.

Painting “Nature morte” designed by Mogens Andersen, Denmark. 1950’s.

Painting by Mogens Andersen, Denmark. 1954.

Set of 456 painted panels “Ändlös Vägg”/”Endless Wall” by Einar Höste, Sweden. 1970’s.

This is the artist’s most significant work, from his own collection. Each panel is marked in the back with a letter, a number, and a sketch of its position within the whole installation. The work has never been shown in its entirety. In the year 2000, 273 of the 456 panels were put together at the House of Sculpture in Stockholm.

Other exhibitions: Centre Culturel Suedois, Paris, November - December 1980

Printed textile “Composition, 2016” by Janina Wesnæs Jørgensen, Denmark. 2016.

Paintings “Fra Coma til Egba” by Kai Führer, Denmark, 1977.

Second floor

Featuring:

Rune Hagberg 1924 - 2015

Rune Fredrik Hagberg was a renowned Swedish artist that took much of his inspiration from Zen Buddhism spirituality and Eastern Calligraphy.

He is represented at, among many others, the Modern Museum and the Norrköping Art Museum.

Hagberg’s meditative informalism is placed between the concretism and expressionism of the 1950s, his art becoming simpler until he reduced it so far that only tightly closed picture reels remained, tied around with strings white, ascetic, and secretive within their frames.

Mixed media painting by Rune Hagberg, Sweden. 1970’s.

Painting “Målning IV” by Rune Hagberg, Sweden. 1966/1967.

Painting by Rune Hagberg, Sweden. 1968. Marked “Av enheter utgår tvåfald - Tao Te King XLII”

Painting by Rune Hagberg, Sweden. 1960’s.

Painting by Rune Hagberg, Sweden, 1950’s.

Second floor

Featuring:

David Svensson 1973 - present

Currently living and working from Malmö, Sweden, David Svensson’s art education began in 1993 at the Academy of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, and later receiving a Master of Fine Arts from Malmö Art Academy in 2000. He currently has a plethora of major public installations throughout Sweden - his latest series, “Coverings”, is currently exhibited here at the London House of Modernity on the second floor. These simple yet captivating compositions are comprised of old book covers, mounted on canvas, and include “Beyond the Arctic Circle”/ “Great Expectations” / “A Tower Mystery”.

Book covers on canvas “Great Expectations / Lysande Ursikter” by David Svensson, Sweden. 2020.

Book covers on canvas “Beyond the Arctic Circle / Bortom Polcirkeln” by David Svensson, Sweden. 2019 - 2020.

Book covers on canvas “A Tower Mystery” by David Svensson, Sweden. 2019 - 2020.

Masterpiece online 2021

www.modernity.se

@modernitystockholm

Photography by: James Harris, Åsa Liffner, Justin Barton

www.14cavendish.com