IDA RÖDÉN

ARTICLE IN AKVARELLEN

Håkan Bull, the editor of Nordic art magazine Akvarellen, has written an in-depth article about my art practice, its connection to water color and delusive knowledge.

RECIPIENT OF A RESIDENCY AT HOTEL SAINTE-VALIÈRE, FRANCE

When you realize you can actually do it all – when you figure your kids can be without you a full week, when you manage to convince an art foundation to financially support your adventures, and when you have the best husband that pushes you to follow just that dream – the one of doing it all. Well, that’s when you wake up in a spacious room where the sunlight is peeking through big windows revealing the narrow streets of Sainte-Valière, a small village in the Minervois region of France. During four months each year, this three-story stone house opens up for creative people to come and write, think, draw, explore, or just dream. This is where I will be, during a beautiful week in September.

WALL PIECE AT WENDELA HELLMAN SCHOOL IN HÄRNÖSAND

During the summer of 2017 I’ve been working on a wall piece for the new Wendela Hellman school in Härnösand, Sweden. Here are four mutated animals as they were observed by my invented explorer Jonas Falck. As well as I could, I recreated his findings. The sketches and notes reveal local fauna of varied degree of mutation. Jonas Falck was born in Stigsjö, a small parish only a few kilometres away from this school, on October 9th 1748. He considered himself to belong to the ranks of Linnaeus’s disciples, which, however, Linnaeus never confirmed. Now he has gotten his retrieval and hopefully a permanent a place in the local history of Härnösand.

RECIPIENT OF A RESIDENCY AT ART N GROUN IN ROJALES, SPAIN

Between April 25th and May 7th, I’ve been invited to the artistic colony Cuevas del Rodeo in Rojales where I will conduct archaeological and paleontological investigations in the southeast Iberian Peninsula. I will keep developing my work and give form to my inner imaginative wold, intertwined with one Erina de Laguart and the expulsion of the Moriscos.

“JONAS FALCK – EN AVVISAD UPPTÄCKTSRESANDES IAKTTAGELSER”
SOLO SHOW AT HÄRNÖSANDS KONSTHALL

After three years I have finally finished (or so I think) my travels with the fictional character Jonas Falck – a misunderstood explorer from the late 18th century. I draw and sculpt a world inhabited by mutant animals and strange sea creatures. The show at Härnösands konsthall runs between December 3rd and February 4th.

“NATURALIER” – A TWO-PERSON SHOW AT NÄSSJÖ KONSTHALL

With an opening on November 12th I will participate in a two-person exhibition with artist Helena Piippo Larsson. As a starting point we have collected natural specimens – such as fossils, rocks, branches and pine cones. In Helena Piippo Larsson’s hands the often overlooked components becomes thoroughly investigated and expanded. Through her drawings and bronze casts the complexity of the small details are soon allowed to take over the room. Me, on the other hand, proceeds from fossils as I stretch the concept of truth. In the fictional character Jonas Falck – a misunderstood explorer from the late 18th century – I draw and sculpt a world inhabited by mutant animals and strange sea creatures. “Naturalier” runs until December 10th.

“HEM LJUVA HEM …? DRÖMMEN OM DET IDEALA” AT KUNGSBACKA KONSTHALL

I will participate in the group exhibition “Hem ljuva hem…? Drömmen om det ideala” (Home sweet home …? The dream of the ideal) at Kungsbacka konsthall. The exhibition runs between September 3 – November 6 with an opening at 1 PM on the 3rd.

To find a place to live in and make it home raises the question about what a home really is – more than a roof over your head. The dream of the ideal home can accommodate both aspirations and disappointments. This is the exhibitions main theme. Participating artists are Zandra Ahl – Anita Andersson & Kerstin Frii – Eva Arnqvist – Shwan Dler Qaradaki – Magdalena Dziurlikowska – Meta Isaeus Berlin – Lina Jaros – Petter Kreuger – Julia Olofsson – Ola Pehrsson – Ida-Lovisa Rudolfsson – Ida Rödén – Ulrika Sparre – Ann Strömland Väggö.

RECIPIENT OF A RESIDENCY AT THE BERGMAN ESTATE (BERGMANGÅRDARNA) ON FÅRÖ DURING MAY

I have arrived at Ängen house on Fårö, a house Ingmar Bergman built a few hundred meters away from his own house Hammar. During my weeklong residency at the Bergman Estate I plan to immerse myself in my invented explorer Jonas Falck. Then I will explore Ingman Bergman’s library, watch movies in his private cinema, walk along the beaches like the Fårö old man (Fårögubben) himself. Then I write a little and draw a bit. It feels good and to say I’m excited would be an understatement!

RECIPIENT OF A PROJECT GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF AN ARTIST BOOK

I’m excited to be awarded a project grant from Längmanska Kulturfonden to be used for the completion of an artist book regarding my invented explorer Jonas Falck and his mysterious findings.

PARTICIPAN IN LILJEVALCH’S JURIED SPRING SALON.

Four drawings inspired by the late 18th century imaginary explorer Jonas Falck will be part of Liljevalchs’ juried Spring Salon. Jonas Falck studied the mutated life following a meteorite impact in the northern region of Sweden. The exhibition will be held in Stockholm City Feb 12 – April 10, 2016.