See A World In A Grain Of Sand

A Group Show at IVAR - Tändstickspalatset, Stockholm

June 20th - November 19th, 2024

Swedish artist Helene Schmitz once noted that her series Earth Works from Namibia reminded her of an hourglass. As time passed, the empty rooms in the abandoned mine town slowly filled with sand, transforming them into gigantic hourglasses.

The title of our summer exhibition, See a World in a Grain of Sand, is drawn from William Blake's poem Auguries of Innocence, written in 1806. It encapsulates the idea of finding profound meaning in the smallest of things and symbolizes how innocence and wonder allow one to perceive the extraordinary in the ordinary. This sentiment resonates through the works on display, as each photograph encourages viewers to see the world from a new perspective.

Photography stops time, capturing moments and non-moments that might otherwise slip away. Roger Ballen reflects on this idea: "Photography tells you that every second in time is different from every other second." Jimmy Nelson believes, "Photographs open doors into the past, but also allow a look into the future." Vee Speers captures the essence of time in her work: "Photography can stop time and hold it captive in a frame, making the ephemeral eternal."

The exhibition, organized by WILLAS contemporary, features works by Roger Ballen, Jacob Gils*, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Jimmy Nelson, Helene Schmitz, and Vee Speers.

We invite you to visit the Matchstick Palace in the heart of Stockholm and see a world in a grain of sand.

WILLAS contemporary

IVAR - Tändstickspalatset

Västra Trädgårdsgatan 15 - STOCKHOLM

Opening hours of the Matchstick Palace are Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM.

The exhibition is free of charge, but please register before your visit by calling 0046 8-698 87 00 or send an email to IVAR at reception@ivarstockholm.se.

*) The 3 works by Jacob Gils are presented in close collaboration with Anna Zachrisson, Jacob Gils Artist Liaison and agent for Sweden.