Annika Berglund

Solo Shows

Interlocked, 14 Nov – 11 Dec 2021


November 14, 2021


This exhibition is based very much around shared experiences of Covid and lockdowns.

Thematically it is based around the fact that living spaces became both protection and confinement and both the importance and the fragilitity of social networks became starkly obvious.

The choicer of materials was also determined by practicality when creativity had to happen in a confined space, but these materials also carried significance for the artists, in the current time:

In creating this new series, fluffy wisps of wool and soft sheets of Mulberry paper are put together loosely, wetted down with soapy water and agitated to create a very strong fabric of interlocked fibres. The mulberry and wool fibres, through soap, water, rubbing and being knocked around, create connections that hold them together so tightly they can no longer be pulled apart and they become a unified whole. Cohesion through adversity if you will…”.

Materiality 2014


September 27, 2014


”Clay, bronze and glass; materials that form an intimate part of human history and development, come together in this exhibition based on texture, materials and earth colours.

The mark of a potter’s thumb in a 5000 year old bowl started a process of exploration based on the malleability and amazing sensuality of wet clay. Taking advantage of the expressiveness of clay, the traditional method of wedging (kneading) clay, became a starting point and inspiration.

The meditative, rhythmic kneading of clay creates a spiral pattern adding elements of immediacy and spontaneity, while also making a connection with generations of past potters.”.

In the Bone – 2011


August 8, 2011


My hand built vessels take form in a searching way, in a dialogue with the material. A rough shape is slowly being refined towards a final form that that only becomes clear as the work progresses. There is often a period in the middle of the making process where the piece seems like a failure that should be rejected, before more work finally reveals a form that works, that has tension and grace.

Sea Change – 2006


July 31, 2006


Changes in the artist’s life and professional direction, and a move from anger to joy, has led to a journey of creative exploration that was influenced by six months of traveling to different seas around the world in 2004. This trip was a source of inspiration for current work in ceramics, print and paint.

Annika has found that working in three different media simultaneously causes an exciting interchange of ideas and techniques. In her prints and paintings one can see echoes of the images that have also inspired her ceramics.

Interlocked, 14 Nov – 11 Dec 2021


November 14, 2021


This exhibition is based very much around shared experiences of Covid and lockdowns.

Thematically it is based around the fact that living spaces became both protection and confinement and both the importance and the fragilitity of social networks became starkly obvious.

The choicer of materials was also determined by practicality when creativity had to happen in a confined space, but these materials also carried significance for the artists, in the current time:

In creating this new series, fluffy wisps of wool and soft sheets of Mulberry paper are put together loosely, wetted down with soapy water and agitated to create a very strong fabric of interlocked fibres. The mulberry and wool fibres, through soap, water, rubbing and being knocked around, create connections that hold them together so tightly they can no longer be pulled apart and they become a unified whole. Cohesion through adversity if you will…”.

Materiality 2014


September 27, 2014


”Clay, bronze and glass; materials that form an intimate part of human history and development, come together in this exhibition based on texture, materials and earth colours.

The mark of a potter’s thumb in a 5000 year old bowl started a process of exploration based on the malleability and amazing sensuality of wet clay. Taking advantage of the expressiveness of clay, the traditional method of wedging (kneading) clay, became a starting point and inspiration.

The meditative, rhythmic kneading of clay creates a spiral pattern adding elements of immediacy and spontaneity, while also making a connection with generations of past potters.”.

In the Bone – 2011


August 8, 2011


My hand built vessels take form in a searching way, in a dialogue with the material. A rough shape is slowly being refined towards a final form that that only becomes clear as the work progresses. There is often a period in the middle of the making process where the piece seems like a failure that should be rejected, before more work finally reveals a form that works, that has tension and grace.

Sea Change – 2006


July 31, 2006


Changes in the artist’s life and professional direction, and a move from anger to joy, has led to a journey of creative exploration that was influenced by six months of traveling to different seas around the world in 2004. This trip was a source of inspiration for current work in ceramics, print and paint.

Annika has found that working in three different media simultaneously causes an exciting interchange of ideas and techniques. In her prints and paintings one can see echoes of the images that have also inspired her ceramics.

Group Shows

My Favourite Art Work – 2023

March, 2023

In October 2022, the Olivier Cornet Gallery introduced a new initiative by asking their interns and volunteers to take a closer look at their favourite artworks in the storage area and write about them.
 This resulted in an exhibition titled ‘My Favourite Artwork at the Olivier Cornet’ featuring all the works reviewed so far.
 
Information Networks I by Annika Berglund
A closer look by Natalia Sikora

Arbour Essences – 2023

March, 2023

New research points to the fact that different trees — and even different tree species — are involved in a constant exchange of resources and information via underground fungal networks, known technically as mycorrhizae and popularly as the Wood Wide Web.
I am inspired by how this echoes the idea of the human neural network and how the bridging of the gap between ourselves and the world depends on the interpretation of signals. Communication is the connection between the self and the world. The messages we send and receive can be fragmented and we need both empathy and good will to find the meaning in what we perceive.
I am exploring this theme in a series of works in felted wool and mixed media.

Irish Wool Exhibitions – 2022-23

March, 2023

In 2020 I got involved in a project with Feltmakers Ireland, looking at promoting more use of Irish Wool for Felting.
This project involved sourcing Irish wool and extensive testing of the Feltmaking characteristics of wool from different breeds of sheep bred in Ireland.
This work resulted in a book about irish wool and I was invited to show works in Irish wool at a number of exhibitions:
 
2023       My favourite artwork, Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin.
2023       A Meeting of Hands, The Galway Wool Co-op, Athenry Mart
2022       Timpeallacht, Kilcoe Studios, Kilcoe, Co. Cork
2022       Soft Things in Hard Times, Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin.

Felt Art Soft Things in Hard Times – 2022

March, 2023

An Olivier Cornet Gallery  group exhibition featuring work by Olivier Cornet Gallery artist Annika Berglund and invited artists Ramona Farrelly, Fiona Harrington, Fiona Leech and Leiko Uchiyama.
This exhibition is part of ‘August Craft Month’ and showcases contemporary art in lace and felt. Please note that Annika Berglund’s triptych The Circles We Walk, presented in this show, is also part of ‘National Heritage Week 2022’.
In difficult times like the  Covid pandemic, crafts and textile endeavours gain increased significance and can help us cope.

Drawing on Don Quixote – 2019

March, 2023

An Olivier Cornet Gallery exhibition showing at the 2019 Wexford Opera Festival and in the context of Massenet’s ‘Don Quichotte’ featuring in thats year’s festival.  
The theme of this group exhibition was the iconic novel, but also art inspired by it through history.
Many of these art works depicted two very different silhouettes to some degree isolated against the world. I used this image as the starting point for my work submitted to this exhibition.

2 ° C – 2017

March, 2023

‘2° C’ is an artists’ response to climate change, curated by Olivier Cornet with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland.
My response to this theme was based on the visible signs of climate change where weather patterns grow increasingly intense, resulting in storms, flooding and drought.

Elevation – 2016

March, 2023

The theme of this exhibition was based on a poem by French poet Charles Baudelaire; Élévation (Elevation)
I was inspired by the image of soaring spirit described so vividly in the poem, but wanted to express  that no matter how lofty your ideas and intellect you cannot escape the connection to the physical, the ordinary and everyday for very long.
I was hoping to express this duality between mind and body in these pieces.

In Their Element – 2016

March, 2023

An exhibition based on the theme of the four elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air at the Olivier Cornet Gallery. For this exhibition I was asked to invite three other artists to work with an element each, and I invited artists Freda Rupp, Lesley Kelly, and Sinead Glynn. Guest Speaker was Dr Eoin Grogan, landscape archaeologist.
The idea of an exhibition based on the theme of the four elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air connects with underlying fundamentals in ceramics. The three ceramicists I asked to join me in this exhibition were each chosen for their particular connections with one of these four elements.

Hopscotch – 2015

March, 2023

2015 was the year of the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Universal Children’s Day is celebrated in November every year. With these two events in mind, at Vue 2015, Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair (RHA Dublin), the Olivier Cornet Gallery presented a themed group show entitled ‘Hopscotch’. The show deals with childhood memories and children’s games.
 My take on this theme was the collections of small items, little figures or other things collected by children.

Art of Clay – 2010

March, 2023

This work is based around using abstract form to express a state of mind and a stage in life. I want the shapes to convey a sense of harmony and balance, of nurture and protection, in a sometimes perilous environment.
Shapes and textures draw inspiration from my interest in landscapes, both rural and urban and a deep interest in patterns and textures found in nature.
Stability and harmony is dependent on different pieces slotting together and creating a stronger whole. This is expressed through substantial or wedge shaped bases supporting fragile or rounded, smooth shapes.

Sculpture in Context – 2006-22

March, 2023

Sculpture in Context is the longest running, most prestigious sculpture exhibition in Ireland. Staged annually in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin, this unique exhibition showcases the inspiring and extraordinary work of both established and emerging artists throughout the magnificent 50 acres of landscaped gardens located in Glasnevin. It is a great opportunity to show work indoors and outdoors and I have been fortunate to be included for a number of years.

My Favourite Art Work – 2023

March, 2023

In October 2022, the Olivier Cornet Gallery introduced a new initiative by asking their interns and volunteers to take a closer look at their favourite artworks in the storage area and write about them.
 This resulted in an exhibition titled ‘My Favourite Artwork at the Olivier Cornet’ featuring all the works reviewed so far.
 
Information Networks I by Annika Berglund
A closer look by Natalia Sikora

Arbour Essences – 2023

March, 2023

New research points to the fact that different trees — and even different tree species — are involved in a constant exchange of resources and information via underground fungal networks, known technically as mycorrhizae and popularly as the Wood Wide Web.
I am inspired by how this echoes the idea of the human neural network and how the bridging of the gap between ourselves and the world depends on the interpretation of signals. Communication is the connection between the self and the world. The messages we send and receive can be fragmented and we need both empathy and good will to find the meaning in what we perceive.
I am exploring this theme in a series of works in felted wool and mixed media.

Irish Wool Exhibitions – 2022-23

March, 2023

In 2020 I got involved in a project with Feltmakers Ireland, looking at promoting more use of Irish Wool for Felting.
This project involved sourcing Irish wool and extensive testing of the Feltmaking characteristics of wool from different breeds of sheep bred in Ireland.
This work resulted in a book about irish wool and I was invited to show works in Irish wool at a number of exhibitions:
 
2023       My favourite artwork, Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin.
2023       A Meeting of Hands, The Galway Wool Co-op, Athenry Mart
2022       Timpeallacht, Kilcoe Studios, Kilcoe, Co. Cork
2022       Soft Things in Hard Times, Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin.

Felt Art Soft Things in Hard Times – 2022

March, 2023

An Olivier Cornet Gallery  group exhibition featuring work by Olivier Cornet Gallery artist Annika Berglund and invited artists Ramona Farrelly, Fiona Harrington, Fiona Leech and Leiko Uchiyama.
This exhibition is part of ‘August Craft Month’ and showcases contemporary art in lace and felt. Please note that Annika Berglund’s triptych The Circles We Walk, presented in this show, is also part of ‘National Heritage Week 2022’.
In difficult times like the  Covid pandemic, crafts and textile endeavours gain increased significance and can help us cope.

Drawing on Don Quixote – 2019

March, 2023

An Olivier Cornet Gallery exhibition showing at the 2019 Wexford Opera Festival and in the context of Massenet’s ‘Don Quichotte’ featuring in thats year’s festival.  
The theme of this group exhibition was the iconic novel, but also art inspired by it through history.
Many of these art works depicted two very different silhouettes to some degree isolated against the world. I used this image as the starting point for my work submitted to this exhibition.

2 ° C – 2017

March, 2023

‘2° C’ is an artists’ response to climate change, curated by Olivier Cornet with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland.
My response to this theme was based on the visible signs of climate change where weather patterns grow increasingly intense, resulting in storms, flooding and drought.

Elevation – 2016

March, 2023

The theme of this exhibition was based on a poem by French poet Charles Baudelaire; Élévation (Elevation)
I was inspired by the image of soaring spirit described so vividly in the poem, but wanted to express  that no matter how lofty your ideas and intellect you cannot escape the connection to the physical, the ordinary and everyday for very long.
I was hoping to express this duality between mind and body in these pieces.

In Their Element – 2016

March, 2023

An exhibition based on the theme of the four elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air at the Olivier Cornet Gallery. For this exhibition I was asked to invite three other artists to work with an element each, and I invited artists Freda Rupp, Lesley Kelly, and Sinead Glynn. Guest Speaker was Dr Eoin Grogan, landscape archaeologist.
The idea of an exhibition based on the theme of the four elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air connects with underlying fundamentals in ceramics. The three ceramicists I asked to join me in this exhibition were each chosen for their particular connections with one of these four elements.

Hopscotch – 2015

March, 2023

2015 was the year of the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Universal Children’s Day is celebrated in November every year. With these two events in mind, at Vue 2015, Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair (RHA Dublin), the Olivier Cornet Gallery presented a themed group show entitled ‘Hopscotch’. The show deals with childhood memories and children’s games.
 My take on this theme was the collections of small items, little figures or other things collected by children.

Art of Clay – 2010

March, 2023

This work is based around using abstract form to express a state of mind and a stage in life. I want the shapes to convey a sense of harmony and balance, of nurture and protection, in a sometimes perilous environment.
Shapes and textures draw inspiration from my interest in landscapes, both rural and urban and a deep interest in patterns and textures found in nature.
Stability and harmony is dependent on different pieces slotting together and creating a stronger whole. This is expressed through substantial or wedge shaped bases supporting fragile or rounded, smooth shapes.

Sculpture in Context – 2006-22

March, 2023

Sculpture in Context is the longest running, most prestigious sculpture exhibition in Ireland. Staged annually in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin, this unique exhibition showcases the inspiring and extraordinary work of both established and emerging artists throughout the magnificent 50 acres of landscaped gardens located in Glasnevin. It is a great opportunity to show work indoors and outdoors and I have been fortunate to be included for a number of years.

Awards

The Hungry Hill Gallery Award 2011


The Hungry Hill Gallery Cork.

The NUI Art and Design Prize 2010-11


Only one is warded per school year. Awarded for  Cradlin – triptych with pieces in Saggar fired ceramics, glass and bronze.

See Full Article

Best Craft in the Garden at Bloom 2008


Awarded by the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Commissions

Held Note
2012


70cm*38cm*15cm Commissioned by Dublin Musical Youth Foundation for the exhibition Instrumental Art in 2012.

Trophies for the
Blackrock Animation
Festival
2011


8 trophies 16cm*10cm*8cm 8 trophies designed and created for winners of the 2011 Blackrock Animation Festival.

Trophy for Scléip! –
Gaelscoileanna
2006


Grand Trophy 45cm 25cm* 18cm Winner of a competition to design a travelling trophy for the Gaelscoileanna Scléip! competition, a talent competition aimed at pupils attending Irish medium secondary schools troughout Ireland.

Held Note
2012


70cm*38cm*15cm Commissioned by Dublin Musical Youth Foundation for the exhibition Instrumental Art in 2012.

Trophies for the
Blackrock Animation
Festival
2011


8 trophies 16cm*10cm*8cm 8 trophies designed and created for winners of the 2011 Blackrock Animation Festival.

Trophy for Scléip! –
Gaelscoileanna
2006


Grand Trophy 45cm 25cm* 18cm Winner of a competition to design a travelling trophy for the Gaelscoileanna Scléip! competition, a talent competition aimed at pupils attending Irish medium secondary schools troughout Ireland.

Reviews

Catherine Cleary

Contributor to The Irish Times


– Arbour Essences 2023 –

Berglund’s works are beautiful spun ropes of Merino wool, silk and viscose coming together at nodes with gold-plated silk thread. Flattened on to felt or fashioned into a hanging globe, they reminded us of networks, the mycorrhizal threads that connect trees under our feet. Like all good art, they stayed with me, and my 4am brain provided another comparison. These pulsing red cords were umbilical, drawing human and arboreal relationships together, people and plants entangled in the same ecosystem. Our connections are visceral. Urban trees absorb some of our pollution, clean our water, provide shade and help make us feel happier.

Natalia Sikora

Olivier Cornet Gallery


– My Favourite Art work 2023 –

“Information Networks I is one of artist Annika Berglund’s newer art works that I had the opportunity of viewing at the Olivier Cornet Gallery prior to its appearance in any exhibition. The work may be viewed however in the gallery Storage Area or as we like to refer to it – ‘Treasure Trove’. 

Penny McCormick

THE GLOSS


– Interlocked 2021 –

Covid-19 has changed many aspects of our lives; “This new reality led me to focus my practice on the immediate and the simple; the square in which I felt confined, also protected me, the circle – the nurturing bubble, but also the sinister round spiky shape of the corona virus” says artist Annika Berglund, who uses these motifs in textiles and fibre arts in her latest exhibition. “In creating this new series, fluffy wisps of wool and soft sheets of Mulberry paper are put loosely together, wetted down with soapy water and agitated to create a very strong fabric of interlocked fibres. The mulberry and wool fibres, through soap, water, rubbing and being knocked around, create connections that hold them together so tightly they can no longer be pulled apart and they become a unified whole. Cohesion through adversity, if you will…” Opening on Sunday, November 14 at Olivier Cornet Gallery until December 3, the exhibition is also available to view in the gallery’s 3D virtual space. At 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin