Times of Turmoil: Rudolf Gowenius and Andjeas Ejiksson.

Times of Turmoil centers on the multifaceted work of artist Rudolf Gowenius during a time when Europe was shaken by profound social, political, and cultural changes. Born in 1896 in Öjebyn, Norrbotten, he trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm and went on to work primarily in Paris and Stockholm during the first half of the twentieth century. Like a mirror of the movements and contexts that still shape Europe’s cultural identity and cohesion today, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to rediscover Gowenius and his art.

The exhibition is presented in seven scenes. Each scene is based on a specific aspect of Gowenius’ life and art, which in turn reflect issues and events such as faith, identity and economic crisis. Among other things, he created a series of modernist murals at the Paris bar La Cigogne, developed a technique for velvet painting, decorated financier Ivar Krüeger’s music room and created a highly acclaimed advertising pillar for the Swedish paper industry at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris.

Through an in-depth exploration of Gowenius’ life and work, the exhibition intertwines history and the present. It also aims to draw attention to an artist who has largely been overshadowed, but whose work is of great cultural and historical value. On display are paintings and sketches from his work in Paris and Stockholm, as well as works by the artist Andjeas Ejiksson and images, documents and objects from the various contexts in which Gowenius was active. The exhibition is produced in close collaboration with Rudolf Gowenius’ daughter, Vera Gowenius.

Image 1: Rudolf Gowenius standing next to the advertising column he designed for Svenskt Papper for the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris
Image 2: Velvet painting created for the music room in Ivar Kreuger’s Paris apartment on Avenue Victor-Emmanuel III. Title unknown.
Image 3: Interior view featuring a mural at the nightclub La Cigogne, Montparnasse, Paris. Photographer unknown.