Pockets of Hope, Viktor Rosdahl. Tönnheim Gallery
Tönnheim Gallery presents the solo exhibition Pockets of Hope by the acclaimed Swedish artist Viktor Rosdahl. Viktor Rosdahl is exhibiting in Madrid for the first time and will be present at the opening, the exhibition will be on display until 23rd of November. In his paintings, Rosdahl reflects on the interaction between landscapes and the human condition, exploring how life and reality can be viewed through utopian and alien lenses. His work invites us to reconsider society’s norms, agendas, and ways of living. Is another world possible? How does one live authentically within a system of values they wish were different? As a dissident, in silent opposition, or immersed in dreams, can this be anything more than escapism?
Rosdahl’s artistic practice is informed by a range of influences, including the layered, politically ambiguous works of Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter, whose explorations of memory and history resonate in his own. He also draws inspiration from the atmospheric scenes of Peter Doig, the dreamlike realism of Mamma Andersson, and the emotional rawness found in the works of Dana
Schutz and Philip Guston. Echoes of Franz Gertsch, Dea Trier Mørch, and David Hockney can be seen in his precise depictions of human environments, while the surreal visions of Hieronymus Bosch and the emotional intensity of Vincent van Gogh are reflected in his more introspective pieces. Scandinavian artists such as Axel Fahlcrantz, Herman Österlund, and Jose Gordillo also play a role in shaping his visual exploration of nature and society.
Rosdahl’s works have been extensively exhibited in numerous institutions, artist-run initiatives, and private galleries over the past two decades. Recent solo shows include My Own Pictures; A Rare Light at Berg Gallery, Stockholm (2023), Dunkelhet at Cora Hillebrand, Gothenburg (2022), and Jenseits at
Werkhalle Wiesenburg, Berlin (2023). Recent duo shows include Mancave at Sotheby’s, co-curated by Ebba de Faire, Stockholm (2022), Chart Art Fair with Cora Hillebrand, Copenhagen (2022), and Tönnheim Gallery, Marbella (2023). His works are represented in the collections of Moderna Museet, Nationalmuseum, and the British Museum, as well as in several private and public collections. In 2019, he installed a major public artwork spanning four floors at Danderyd’s new Emergency Hospital Building. He has been awarded scholarships by the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, Malmö Art Museum, Edstrandska Foundation, and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
Viktor Rosdahl, born in 1980 in Helsingborg, is an artist based in Malmö. He studied in Stockholm and Malmö, receiving his MFA in 2007. Known for his dark, often provocative portrayals of industrialism and contemporary society, Rosdahl creates a unique narrative that blends the power of imagination with critical social reflection.
For more information contact: Mattias Tönnheim +34 625 955 007 or +46 704 411 914 mattias@wadstromtonnheim.se // https://instagram.com/tonnheimgallery // www.tonnheimgallery.com
Calle Miguel Mayor 1, Carabanchel (28019 Madrid) and the gallery is open Tuesday – Friday at 11.00-14.00 & 16.30-19.30 and Saturdays 11.00-14.00, or by appointment.
Tönnheim Gallery’s mission is to examine the idea of the painterly, be it also through related media such as photography, sculpture, installations, video and drawing, in order to understand and to promote the direction of painting and its relevance to contemporary visual culture.
