Stockholm artist Jim Thorell uses an impressionistic use of color to drive the composition. Like landscapes, as if viewed from above, below, forwards and backwards at once, Jim completely disintegrates the horizon line, while still portraying landscape as the subject with strong horizontal movements across the canvas. Thorell’s visual worlds question the perceptible reality and open up references to symbolism, painting of the early 20th century, and psychedelic textures of the 1970s, which he translates into his own contemporary visual language.

What are you working on right now? /Tell us about your exhibition during Stockholm Art Week?
I am right now in the process of getting out of the woods with these paintings we are exhibiting in may, the subway doves I call them.

What inspired you to become an artist, and how has your artistic journey evolved over time?
For me personally it was never a choice, it’s just a way to make sense of some of my personal traits and behavior.

What is your creative process like, and how do you approach developing new ideas and concepts for your work?
I just paint and draw without a plan or idea, over time one thing after another fall out of view and in the end I’m left with images that hopefully have opened up cracks and crevices that I want to explore further in new images. On and on it goes.

Can you tell me about a specific artwork or series of works that are particularly meaningful to you and why?
I’m not particularly sentimental with my work, but the series I made for the 2020 show Vinden at Loyal was made during so much emotional upheaval both personal and collectively. I think artists myself included are like antennas and when we are not transmitting we get caught up in our own narratives too much. So these works are a good example of going with the larger motion.

What do you think of Stockholm as an art city?
I love Stockholm. I love the complex, passionate relationship with creativity here. It’s very idealistic and real yet in stark contrast with our inherent ambition to create this glamorous golden projection of ourselves.

Do you have a favorite Swedish Artist?
Duda Bebek, Magnus Karlsson will show her at market art fair in may.

Do you have a favorite bar or restaurant in Stockholm?
Resto Tengu, it’s always worth a visit.