On March 2nd, Eighteen Gallery in Copenhagen introduced the latest solo exhibition by Sara-Vide Ericson titled Obsolete Decoy. After two previous solo presentations at V1 gallery, the Swedish artist used the opportunity to exhibit in their "sister" larger/higher space, by presenting some major, large-scale masterpieces.

The imposing The Wrestler piece is dominating the white cube space, depicting the artist walking alone in nature, wearing only a bra and chaps. Spanning close to three meters in height and filing up the large wall almost floor to ceiling, the impression of this majestic work is accented with the determined expression of the main character, the dynamic posture she is captured in, and the unusual yet compelling light the image is set in. With hues ranging from bright orange, all the way to purples, the artist captured the of the enless beauty of wild nature which surrounds her home and her studio.

This is continued on Wall of Sound piece which arrests the power and impact of the running waterfall, depicting it's raw power and focusing on visually presenting the deafening sound of the scene. Painted with expressive brush strokes, Ericson manages to capture all the beating of water against the stone, creating an image that changes itself as you switch the point of view, just as the experiencing a waterfall changes as you're coming closer to it. Relationship with nature is also shown in Band Aid, which is a metaphor for finding shelter in a carcass of an animal, presented through a white fur coat and a red shirt under it. The whole idea of connecting her work to the environment she lives and works in is further emphasized with wood chips scattered on the floor of otherwise sterile space. Along with influencing the way one is moving through the presentation, this unusual addition is adding a distinct scent and a subtle sound to the overall experience.

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All the pieces in the show are artist's examination of archetypes which were done through personal research and experience. From portraying a bear using a photo trap reference photo she took herself for Ursula pieces, to patiently waiting for a moment when the first leaves are popping on birch trees after a long winter for Pink Silence, the works in this show are taking a step away from the technical sphere and leaving room for artist's process and performance.

Photo and text by @SashaBogojev