Saara Ekström

Careless Water
October 31 – December 19

A modern art gallery with dim lighting, featuring three framed abstract artworks hung on white walls in a corridor-like space, with no visible people.
An art gallery interior showing three framed artworks hanging on white walls, illuminated by spotlighting, in a serene, uncluttered space.
Empty art gallery with white walls, gray carpet, and various framed artworks hanging. the space is well-lit with ceiling lights and features a bench for seating.
A framed photograph of a single flower displayed on a beige wall, viewed through a large window with a reflection of a light-fixture's shadow. a plaque reads "susan derges - geranium '05".
A woman sits watching a vintage black and white film on a tv inside a minimalist art gallery with framed photographs on the distant walls.
Two framed artworks on a gallery wall, one depicting an abstract geometric form and the other featuring a more organic, brush-stroke style image, both illuminated by gallery lighting.
Two framed photographs on a gallery wall; one depicts a black high-heeled shoe, the other a vase of flowers on a red pedestal.
Two framed pictures of flower arrangements hanging on a beige wall, illuminated by soft overhead lighting in a gallery setting.
People conversing in a dimly lit art gallery, standing near a table with flowers and candles, with artwork displayed on the surrounding walls.
Four people, two men and two women, view a framed photograph of flowers in a gallery, with one man leaning against the wall.
Visitors viewing various artworks at a gallery exhibition, with one person closely examining a framed picture on the wall. the room is softly lit and features several people mingling.
Two people admiring a framed piece of artwork in a gallery setting, focusing on a brightly illuminated picture of a tree. they are standing close and appear engaged in observing the details.

Press Release

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present Careless Water a selection of photographs and videos by Finnish artist Saara Ekström. Assembled with natural and artificial materials, the artist combines photography and video to create her own hybrid form of surrealism. Her luminous imagery explores opposite worlds of growth and decomposition.

This body of work focusses on domestic objects that we encounter daily but rarely truly observe. Tilting trashcans, plastic chairs, fresh flowers and other collected items are re-contextualized to form peculiar cinematic compositions. Her sophisticated color palette is sourced from unremarkable objects — rubber bands, sewer tubes, insulation foam and the greygreen of various wires. Influenced by 17th century Northern European still life paintings, her work examines the transient nature of earthly matter. These brilliant photos exude a timeless quality that seamlessly blend traditional with contemporary.

The symbolism connected to materials becomes amplified in Ekström’s video, Man Before the Mirror. This piece merges video of a male tailor at work and surrealist imagery with an audio element of a woman reciting text. Based on the Dadaist text by Rrose Sélavy (a pseudonym of Marcel Duchamp), Man Before the Mirror describes the moment of self awareness when the mirror reflects its subject’s vanity.

Saara Ekström’s work has shown worldwide including exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki and the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art in Vaasa, Finland. She is an elected Helsinki Festival Artist of the Year and has received awards from Ars Fennica, Carnegie,Wihuri and Stina Krook Foundations. Her work is collected internationally by the Swedish and Finnish Governments, Helsinki City Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art in Kiasma, and the Northern Arizona University of Art Museum in Flagstaff among many others. Ekström is a current resident at the International Studio and Curatorial Program in NewYork. This exhibition is supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Varsinais-Suomi Regional fund.

High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @levygallery 

Dates: October 31–December 19, 2014
Reception: November 7, 6–8 pm
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com @levygallery

Artwork and Information

Saara Ekström