ISSUES

At Mahkjip Gallery, five Swedish artists—two of whom work as a duo—have brought works that individually represent their practices, collectively forming a showcase of Nordic contemporary art to a Korean audience. The artists are seemingly reckless in their use of materials, references to western art history, and what images they have chosen to create. At Mahkjip, it becomes evident that they are a part of the Swedish avantgarde.

Meaning "crudeness", the prefix word Mahk (막) is commonly used as a keyword punctuating architect Byoungsoo Cho's raw practice, materialized in the building that Cho has turned into a gallery. The history of the dwelling is clearly visible—few additions of modern materials, only where effective, bring fundamental updates to its purpose. The space's philosophy is echoed in the artworks presented in the exhibition Stockholm Issues, carrying with them a sense of honesty. With this, the art converges with the word Mahk in their assiduous action, bravery, and poetry. Perhaps what unites us Koreans and Swedes is hard work—a continual dedication to finding perfect imperfections.

Presented by ISSUES, Stockholm, Hosted by BCHO Architects Associates, Seoul. With support from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.

Alfred Boman b. 1981 in Luleå, Sweden lives and works in Stockholm.

Alfred received his Meisterschuler in Herr Professor Tobias Rehberger’s Klasse at HFBK Städelschule in Frankfurt, Germany in 2011 and studied Art History and Fine Arts at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His work has been exhibited internationally at galleries such as Cooper Cole, Toronto, Canada; Prism, Los Angeles, USA; Fluxia, Milan, Italy; Union Pacific, London, UK; Carl Kostyál, London, UK; Ibid Projects/Gallery Exit, Hong Kong, China; Gether Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark; Johan Berggren Gallery, Malmö, Sweden; ISSUES, Loyal Gallery and Galerie Nordenhake in Stockholm, Sweden. Alfred Boman was also included in the Modernautställningen at Moderna Museet, Stockholm, in 2018. Several of his works were acquired by the Nordic Contemporary Art Collection.

Anna Zacharoff b. 1987 Stockholm, Sweden lives and works in Brussels, Belgium.

Anna received her MFA at HFBK Städelschule in Frankfurt, Germany and received her BFA at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden. Anna has done solo presentations in galleries such as Neue Alte Brücke in Frankfurt, Germany; Vilma Gold in London, UK; STANDARD in Oslo, Norway; ISSUES in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the institutions S.M.A.K. in Ghent, Belgium and Nassauischen Kunstverein Wiesbaden, Germany. Anna’s art is in the permanent collection of Museum für Moderne Kunst, MMK, Frankfurt am Main, Germany and in the M Leuven Collection, Belgium, to name a few.

Hampus Balanzo Wernemyr b. 1982 in Stenungsund, Sweden, lives and works in Stockholm.

Hampus is a graduate from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. Solo and group shows include Downtown Issues II at ISSUES, Stockholm (2023); Turpentine Conclusion at ISSUES, Stockholm (2023); Hampus Wernemyr at ISSUES, Stockholm (2022); Hampus Wernemyr på Den Gyldene Freden, Den Gyldene Freden, Stockholm (2022); The Collection at Gävle Konstcentrum, Gävle (2022); Transmission at Konstakademien, Stockholm (2021); Downtown Issues at ISSUES, Stockholm (2021); Stockholm Sessions, Carl Kostyál, Stockholm (2021); Tip-Tap at Galleri Mejan, Stockholm and Tempo Rustica, Bångska Våningen, Stockholm (2019).

Linda Pedersen & Henning Hamilton both b. 1987 in Gothenburg, Sweden lives and work in Falerum, Sweden.

As an artist-duo, Henning and Linda have exhibited at Market Art Fair, Stockholm, Sweden (2023); Arsenalsgatan 3, Stockholm, Sweden(2020); Norbergfestival, Västmanland, Sweden (2022) and ISSUES, Stockholm, Sweden (2021,23).