ISSUES

For Market Art Fair, the artist duo Linda Pedersen and Henning Hamilton present Stjärnornas Krig, an installation of carved wooden objects resembling a classical sitting room. It features an armoire, a table with chairs, a play horse and two sconces on the walls. Each piece draws on human and non-human relations and their social and political constructions using symbols and figurative storytelling. Naivety is present in the raw yet charming craftsmanship and cynicism in the critical world view that the objects encourage. We can place Linda and Henning’s art within the lineage of Pablo Picasso’s figural representation of socio-political issues or the 1960s Scandinavian movement elevating craft to fine art. Using simple materials skillfully in an overly symbolic display, the duo’s art is a brave expression amidst a contemporary aesthetic that is commonly gestural.

In the installation, the monumental three-part armoire is in- habited by two twins wearing star collars sharing a birthday cake. One is in charge of the knife while the other is in charge of the fork, but who is in charge of the twins? Beneath the twins, a third figure is lying down beneath a drill that extends from the table the cake sits on. Above it all, stars shine through the closed curtain.

The table titled It's expensive to be me, looking this good don't come for free displays a piggy bank and stacks of sausage coins (korvslantar), cut with a knife. It suggests that the grand wealth of coins was created by the piggy himself.

The trojan horse titled Mor och Dotter is a mother to be, running on the wheels of love. Her offspring, hidden inside, might wreck havoc once out.

De' e' Latent, the title of the sconces, is a play on words, exclusive to speakers of the Gothenburg dialect. It reminds us that Linda and Henning have carved in hidden and double meanings throughout the entire installation.

As a duo, Linda and Henning create sculptures and installations drawing on the fantastical. In their individual practices, Linda tells stories through wood craft and Henning uses found objects in romantic assemblages. Both artists’ individual styles are equally present and when combined, they form a unique and bold expression.

LINDA PEDERSEN

b. 1987 Gothenburg, Sweden. Lives and works in Falerum, Sweden.

Linda received her artistic education at, among other institutions, Camberwell College of Art in London and at Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo, Japan. She has a B.A. from Konstfack — College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm. Linda has had solo exhibitions at BOY Art Gallery, Bollebygd, Sweden; Loyal Gallery, Stockholm and Vita Rosen Gallery, Gothenburg. She has participated in group exhibitions at Xetmuseet, Botkyrka, Sweden; Thielska Galleriet, Stockholm; Kamarade, Falsterbo, Sweden; Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm; Deitch Projects, New York, USA; Galleri Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm; Loyal Gallery, Stockholm; Galleri Thomassen, Gothenburg and ISSUES, Stockholm.

HENNING HAMILTON

b. 1987 Gothenburg, Sweden. Lives and works in Falerum, Sweden.

Henning has had solo exhibitions at Tatjana Pieters, Ghent and ISSUES, Stockholm. He has participated in group exhibitions at Galleri Thomassen, Gothenburg; the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm; Carl Kostyál, Stockholm, and at ISSUES, Stockholm. In 2019 he took part in the Launch Pad LaB Art Residency Program.

As a duo, exhibitions include Jailhouse Rock at Arsenalsgatan 3 (2020), Stockholm and My Melody at Norbergfestivalen (2022), Norberg.