Arrivals

Democratizing the art world is no easy task. The world of art can seem cold and intimidating to those who are unfamiliar with its fluid ways. But the creative minds behind Arrivals decided to take on the challenge

 

 

But first, what exactly is Arrivals? It is an online platform created to open access to talented works by emerging creatives of all kinds – painters, sculptors, designers – artists. The Arrivals team curates different kinds of artists with a plan to merge their diverse art stories all into one place. Their works are selected and exhibited in an online gallery, where limited editions and originals are accessible to a wide audience for purchase.

The Forumist had the chance to sit down and talk with one of the Arrivals managing directors, Kristina Sallnäs, about how they are bringing new art experiences to the masses. “We want to keep moving forward to bring up young and un-established artists,” Kristina explained. “We pursue the storytelling and concepts, building on those stories and making them accessible.”

Although they do welcome online submissions, the team often goes out to see the work in person before selecting it for the site. By doing so, they can gain real insight into the life and presence of the work itself, which leads to a more genuine impact. “It often looks so different in person!” Kristina remarked.

But most importantly, Arrivals is talking with their artists. The team makes a point of visiting artist studios and exhibitions, listening to the artists origin stories, and the concepts and ideas behind their work. They establish a connection with the artists themselves. They choose to work with artists who intrigue them, artists with stories and histories that carry meaning. “We can start to shift how people buy, use, and think about art,” Kristina says. By creating this online platform, Arrivals encourages more people to decorate their homes with art that has a story behind it, getting away from a purely commercial market.

In the end, its important to the Arrivals team that the selected artists decide for themselves which works they want to include on Arrivals, in what format, and at what price. Because the platform is online, they aren’t bound by traditional laws that are routine for more conventional gallery spaces – so there is room here to experiment.  So far, Arrivals features the work of more than 70 emerging and established artists from Scandinavia and around the world.

Here’s a chance to meet some of Arrival’s represented artists: Johanna Welinder, Liza Forslund, Cherry Cobra, Tim Karlsson Djanforouz and Rebecka Bebben Andersson.

 

 

Johanna Welinder

Johanna Welinder is a Stockholm-based illustrator and print designer, educated with a BA  at Beckmans School of Design. Using mixed media techniques with naive expression, her work explores an organic world filled with animals, plants and human-like figures. With the aim to raise awareness about climate change, these illustrations show the beauty of earth and love for animals. The humans connecting with nature as an inspiration to live in balance with our planet.

 

 

Liza Forslund

Liza Forslund is an artist who lives in Stockholm,  graduating from Beckmans College of Design in a few weeks. She has a background in classical painting, and attended the art school Pernbys Målarskola in 2012-13, but since then she has levitated towards illustration and later Graphic Design and Art Direction. Forslund feels that creating within all three fields is very similar since it’s all about communicating a feeling and a message through visual communication. Women’s discourses are something that inspires Forslund; she tries to include it in all of her work whether it is an illustration or art directing a photoshoot.

 

 

Cherry Cobra

Cherry Cobra Films is a director duo consisting of talented directors Johanna Nyberg and Nathalie Hallman working with commercial film, music videos and art film. Cherry Cobra is represented by production company Hobby Film. Cherry Cobra creates stories based on their love for cinema, wacky characters, retro- nostalgia and bad-ass women. As a female duo with new and fresh perspectives, they strive to make Swedish filmmaking turn a 180 spin.

 

 

Tim Karlsson Djanforouz

Tim Karlsson Djanforouz is an illustrator based in Stockholm, who’s main instrument of choice is the pencil. Karlsson describes the pencil as direct, something that requires little preparation and fewer choices. He compares the act of drawing to sculpture: Piece by piece, with help from light and shadow, concave and convex shapes begin to emerge. As an illustrator Karlsson’s process often begins with a clear concept. His major interest is the human being – everything from the constant battle for everyday comfort through developing tools and equipment, to the concept of human self-consciousness.

 

 

Rebecka Bebben Andersson

Rebecka Bebben Andersson graduated with an MFA from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm in 2014, and has also  studied for three years at The Royal Institute of Technology, as well as an exchange term at VŠUP in Prague, in the studio for textile art. In addition to this, Andersson has studied opera scenography at Operahögskolan/STDH. But now she has finished school and is making waves. During the last couple of years, Andersson has worked a lot with issues such as power structures in the public sphere, danger, and violence against women. But of course, she also works with other themes in order not to be completely depressed.

 

Credits

Words by Eimi Tagore-Erwin

Thanks to Arrivals for the featured artist statements

Photographs by Frida-My Sundqvist

 

Featured artists:

Johanna Welinder
Instagram: @yoyo_nasty

Liza Forslund
Instagram: @lizaforslund

Cherry Cobra
Instagram: @cherrycobrafilms

Tim Karlsson Djanforouz
Instagram: @timkarlssondjanforuz

Rebecka Bebben Andersson
Instagram: @rebeckabebbenandersson