BANGS AND WHIMPERS – Magnus Strandberg

Magnus Strandberg’s Bangs and Whimpers exhibition at Poriginal Gallery explores ecological concern in an elegiac manner.

The exhibition Bangs and Whimpers delves into individual experiences of ongoing anxiety caused by biodiversity loss and climate change. Through his artistic practice, Strandberg turns toward nature, initiating a dialogue with it.

In his video work, a birch forest sways in the wind, gradually fading away as the image turns monochromatic. As the video progresses, the viewer experiences a tangible sense of disappearance and loss over its 32-minute duration. The familiar birch grove is abstracted before our eyes, transforming into patterns, light, or emptiness. The artist connects his exhibition to ecological concerns and the uncertainty caused by the degradation of the biosphere. He raises questions: What can an individual do? How does one cope with the feeling of inadequacy in a situation that demands action?

Magnus Strandberg (b. 1980) is a visual artist based in Helsinki, who graduated from Aalto University in 2015. His works are part of the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Pro Artibus Foundation. His previous solo exhibition took place at Studio La-Bas in Helsinki in 2021. His upcoming solo exhibition will be held at Galleria Uusi Kipinä in Lahti in October 2023.

Dr. Juha-Heikki Tihinen

Translated with ChatGPT