Markus Åkesson

Markus Åkesson created headlines in 2017 when his painting 'Sleeping Beauty' was removed from the entrance of the school that had commissioned the work. The debate that followed highlighted art's power in society and how much public artworks can affect us. Many of the recurring themes in Markus Åkesson's imagery create recognition connected to fairytales. They touch upon fantasies, masks and dream worlds. 'Sleeping Beauty' is naturally named from the fairy tale, a story that brings up questions of purity, innocence and real love. Common, existential questions that man and society have always contented with, questions that are interesting to raise in a school environment. In the exhibition at Kalmar konstmuseum visitors will be able to immerse themselves in Markus Åkesson's rich detailing and depictions of life and death. The majority of the art works are in private collections, making the exhibition a unique opportunity to see them in real life- an experience which is always different from watching reproductions. The materiality and sheer size of the art work ('Sleeping Beauty' measures almost three meters in width) is also something to reflect upon and bring into one's encounter with the art. Exhibition: Kalmar Konstmuseum, Sweden (10.02.-29.04.2018).