The Magic of the Earth and the Moon

Cilla Ericson and Monica Sjöö first met in 1974 and eventually became close friends. Monica Sjöö, who lived most of her life in England, saw Cilla as an important way of keeping in touch with her native Sweden. They had a lot in common; both were artist daughters, with a whole-hearted political commitment and were early to address environmental and social issues in their art.

Early in their careers, alongside political works, both Monica Sjöö and Cilla Ericson developed a profound interest in ancient myths, especially prehistoric matriarchal goddess cults. Nature, with its inherent forces, was a central theme to both artists, leading to a strong involvement in environmentalism.

In her presentation centring on a few selected works in the exhibition “Monica Sjöö: The Great Cosmic Mother”, Cilla Ericson will talk about Monica Sjöö, her practice and oeuvre, and their long friendship.

Cilla Ericson will be featured this autumn in the exhibition Retro Aktiv at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, with works from 1965 to 2023. The exhibition will be on from 7 October to 11 November 2023.