Ida Ekblad in conversation with Daniel Baumann

Ida Ekblad is a painter, sculptor and printmaker living in Oslo, Norway. She runs “Schloss”, an independent exhibition space in Oslo, and just started a record label; she improves public space, creates set designs for theaters, designs shirts and even carpets. Using the world as a query, she eventually gets into battles about copyright laws. Her sources of inspiration include folk art, scrapyards, gallery art, Samuel Beckett, nature, Gena Rowlands, senses, film, and so on. Every day life is central as it is both a grace and a threat, uplifting, funny, and a disaster. In her eyes, everything is full of promise, and so is her art. Yet, its everythingness is haunted by nothingness, which it celebrates through exuberant mastery. Very few artists are capable of this, to take multiple roads leading in all sorts of directions. Martin Kippenberger was one of them, so is Polish artist Paulina Olowska. The danger is obvious: It is easy to get lost, and to ultimately implode. The question then is: What holds this work and its activities together? One could argue that is form, color and composition (the thing called art). Ida Ekblad's exhibition at Kunsthalle Zurich, her biggest exhibition to date, will provide the answers. And if not, it will present art's capacity to connect worlds apart.

As part of Zurich Art Weekend, Ida Ekblad will talk to Daniel Baumann, Director and Curator of Kunsthalle Zürich.

The talk will be held in English.

In collaboration with E.A.T. / Engadin Art Talks. Join us for drinks on the white terrace (schwarzescafé) after the talk, hosted by E.A.T. and Galerie Eva Presenhuber.