LOUISE VILLA Early Botanists (2021)

Villa’s imagery portrays women, but also children, in various natural environments surrounded by budding plants and animals. It is unclear here what time and place is depicted, as well as who these figures are and what exactly they are doing. They may well be performing scientific studies of their natural surroundings, but the closed eyes of several of the women in the exhibition suggest rather that a contemplative moment is being enjoyed in the wild. Regardless, Villa’s women are always one with the environment. The natural ornamentation reappears in their attire or is even superimposed on them. The plant forms are likewise ambiguous and are represented by stylized flowers and leaves, evoking the experience of, or the idea of, wondrous nature rather than specific flower species. It is clear that Villa’s painting is not portraiture, depicting people performing specific activities in a clearly defined time and space – but rather, her works can be seen as symbolic representations of woman’s ancient connection to nature. Mother Earth.

Louise Villa (b. 1974) lives and works in Lund, Sweden. She has studied at HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design, Gothenburg; Dômen Art School, Gothenburg; Öland’s Art School, Öland. Villa has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in Sweden and abroad. She is represented at Lund municipality; TetraPak, Lund; the city of Gothenburg.

”Early Botanists” (2021) is Louise Villa’s first solo exhibition at Galleri Eklund.

Text by Sandrina Cerda, Galleri Eklund