Sad and beautiful

Karin Broos is an exceptional Swedish artist. She was born in Uppsala and lives in the wonderfully picturesque Värmland. She studied art in the Netherlands, including in ’s-Hertogenbosch, a place I visited for a weekend, back in 2016. As well as producing some amazing art, she has also had more than her fair share of woe through her life.

As I entered the first room of the Liljevachs gallery today, her paintings, though beautiful and haunting, also felt like they exuded a silent, personal, melancholia. Each figure seemed engrossed in some sort of deep revere which we, the viewers, could never be a part of.

The current exhibition at Liljevachs is the largest presentation of her work to date and I visited, having first attended the services place in Liljeholmen in order to finally organise my ID card. It’s merely a coincidence that both places begin with the Swedish word for lily.

But, back to Ms Broos.

As I said, she’s had a lot of bad things in her life. The death of her sister, cancer, the murder of a good friend, these things all happened in the 1970’s. She also had a detached retina in 2011 which could have put an end to her painting. I assume, like Bob, that some genius ophthalmologist re-attached it. She seems perfectly fine now.

I base this on the film of her life that was playing in one of the gallery rooms.

Although it was entirely in Swedish (with helpful Swedish subtitles) her warmth came through. And I did understand a few words. Also, the background music helped set the mood for me. Most of all, though, I really liked her because she had three poodles, two of which were asleep with her on a couch while she talked to camera.

Of all the paintings in the exhibition, my personal favourite was this one:

I love the refraction and the rippling water which almost seems to be moving. It’s a large and captivating work. But, again, what is she thinking about? What has just happened to make her look so engrossed in her thoughts? What is she remembering? So many questions, so few answers.

Another wonderful new artist for me to add to my mental collection. And, of course, another wonderful exhibit at my equal favourite Stockholm art gallery.

Obviously, having wandered the rooms and absorbed as much art as I could handle, it was time to treat myself to lunch and a beer at Blå+ but it was inexplicably closed. I was forced to head down to the Viking Museum, where I enjoyed a bowl of smoked prawns and a lovely glass of Oden’s best.

I had originally intended to get the bus back from Liljeholmen but, instead, spent a lovely, arty day in Stockholm instead. Good call, Gaz.