Topiarus (working in progress), cotton on linen,150x250 cm, 2020
My interest in gardens and topiary has been growing over the last few years. I decided to create “Topiarus”, cotton embroidery on linen, like an alphabet book, extracted from garden pictures and different specimens of topiary.
Topiary designs are named spiral tree, ball on pedestal, two tier pyramid, bird on round pyramid and so on.
Beyond the obvious game between Nature and Culture I prefer to think about them like forms coming from a prehistoric time. We have imposed forms on a living tree making them sculptures but where do the shapes come from? From Nature? Did those designs impose themselves upon us?
Time and a constant care with sharpened eyes for shaped trees remind us our human conditions, doomed to disappear.
Elvire Soyez
elviresoyez.com
EDUCATION
2007-09 + 2016-17 Project studies, KKH, Kungliga Konsthögskola, Stockholm
1999-05 Master of Fine Arts, Ecole Nationale Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Paris (ENSBA)
with Erik Dietman, Richard Deacon, Sculpture department
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2019 Les nuages, Gränbystadens Vårdcentral, Uppsala
Saudade, Embassy of Sweden, Bankok, Thailand, Statens Konstråd, Stockholm
2017 Le fond des océans, shortlisted for Östermalmshallen, Stockholm Konst, Stockholm
2011 Au Feu!, Smedslättsskolan, Stockholm Konst, Stockholm
Selected SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 L´Apesanteur, a duo exhibition with Erik Jeor, Galleri Benoni, Köpenhamn
2016 Un air familier, a duo exhibition with Erik Jeor, Riche & Teatergrillen, Stockholm
2013 Les ancêtres, matiére morte, Angelika Knäpper Gallery, Stockholm
2009 Svenska saker, Borderline, Stockholm
A pagan at my dinner table, Mejan Gallery, Stockholm
2008 Cook a soup from a brain, Norden Ljus Gallery, Stockholm
Mi-monster mi-food, Ak28 Gallery, Sollentuna Art Fair, Stockholm
2006 De l’Exotisme au Quotidien, Mejan Gallery, Stockholm
Selected GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 Tryck!, 11 grafiker, Jakobsberg Konsthall, Stockholm
2011 Float All in Windows, Slaktusateljéerna, Stockholm
2010 L´Origine du Monde, Angelika Knäpper Gallery, Stockholm
The Forgotten Bar projekt,curated by Peter Bergman and Jakob Krajcik, Berlin
REPRESENTED
Statens Konstråd, Stockholm
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
Stockholm Konst, Stockholm
Selected GRANTS, RESIDENCIES
2020 Björkö konstnod art residency
2018 Travelling grant, Konstnärsnämnden
2013-2014 Two years studio grant, Cité Internationale des arts, Paris, Konstakademien
2012 Travel grant, Konstakademien
2010 Working grant, 1 year, Konstnärsnämnden
2010 Grey sur Loing, atelier Carl Larsson, France
WORKING EXPERIENCE
2006 Astrid Lindgren’s Memorial, Assistant, Marie-Louise Ekman
2001 Deposit of printed etchings at the National Library Archive funds (BNF)
PUBLICATIONS
Konstens frågeformulär #1-132, 2020
.Subaltern, 2009
.Le Monde, 2006, "Jolie Cuvée…"
.Ateliers d’Art, 2002, "Elvire Soyez…"
Image and Text Courtesy of the Artist.
Edited by Sue and Emily.
