Cecilia Edefalk

We accompany her into the paintings, behind the image, where she reveals their secrets. As a skilled medium, Edefalk invokes and converses with the deceased originators of the works, establishing an intuitive connection with the artists on the other side and asking them to say something about their works. Their responses are immediate and jerky. In a monotonous, not to say mechanical, voice, Edefalk conveys their responses, word by word. She is the mouthpiece of the artists.

How should we interpret Edefalk’s audioguide? Does it matter if the content is fiction or fact? Should we shake our heads to avoid acknowledging what we hear? Or should we weigh her words carefully in relation to the works of art? That is up to each of us to decide. We can be assured, however, of Edefalk’s earnest desire to communicate. She wants to make a connection. And she does. Cecilia Edefalk’s guided tour emphasises the enigmatic quality of her art. She has previously conversed with August Strindberg in her text-based work I exist. Fini (2008), and painted a portrait of his spirit. With unique sensitivity, she makes historical figures and ethereal beings appear through her art. They exist in her works. Like the answers from the artists we can listen to here.

Works in the Audioguide by Cecilia Edefalk

Cecilia Edefalk

Born 1954 in Norrköping. Lives and works in Stockholm

Education

1982–1987 Linjen för måleri. Kungl. Konsthögskolan/Fine Arts Programme. Royal University College of Fine Arts, Stockholm
1980–1982 Linjen för konst. Birkagårdens Folkhögskola, Stockholm
1973–1977 Linjen för grafisk formgivning. Konstfack/Graphic design. University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockholm

Selected solo exhibitions

2010 Weeping Birch, Gladstone Gallery , New York [US]
2006 Focus, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago [US]
1998–1999 Bern Kunsthalle, Bern [DE]/Moderna Museet, Stockholm

Selected group exhibitions

2002 Documenta 11, Kassel [DE]
2000 Mirrors Edge, Bildmuseet Umeå, Vancouver Art Gallery,Vancouver [CA], Castello di Rivoli, Torino [IT], Tramway, Glasgow [GB], Charlottenborg, Köpenhamn/Copenhagen [DK]
1994 22nd Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo [BR]

Selected bibliography

Irene von Hardenberg, Künstlerinnen, New York, Berlin, Paris, foto/photo Reto Guntli, Gerstenberg Verlag, 2005
Cecilia Edefalk – Nya Verk, Konstnärsmöte, 19 april kl.18.30, Samtal med Marianne Hultman, Norrköpings Konstmuseum 2005
Magnus Bons, Att återge en bild. Användning av måleri och fotografi hos Cecilia Edefalk, Uppsats i filosofisk estetik, Stockholms universitet, 2005
Mario Kramer, Vitamin P – New Perspectives in Painting, Phaidon Press, 2002