SUSURRATION OF THE SPRUCE
Susurration of the Spruce begins in the northern region of Jämtland, at the family house on the shore of Ljungan. The river was once an important transport route used to float timber from the inland forests to the sawmills on the coast; from there the wood was shipped further south to the capital and exported to Europe. Today plantations of pine and spruce have replaced a great deal of the once vast and rich boreal forest. This project draws attention to the life of the forest and the mycorrhizal networks that are formed between trees and mushrooms- fusing the boundaries between soil, roots and fungi. Interested in the mutualistic relationships that connect the forest through underground structures, the work is moving beyond human exceptionalism. The forest floor with its complex interspecies collaborations tells a story different to that of endless extraction of raw materials.
The project was presented at Wip Konsthall in June 2020, bringing together new works on paper, plant dyed fabrics and sculptures from recycled wood, collectively forming a journey into the world of the forest. The colour spectrum in the exhibition is collected directly from the northern landscape, combining local knowledge with studio-based experiments; plants, berries, bark and mushrooms are used to create the inks applied in the drawings. With a holistic approach to materials and how the artworks are made, Löfström is considering the source and afterlife of each element that make up the installation. The work is informed by field studies, scientific research, traditional knowledge and mythology, as the artist is engaging in a process preoccupied with learning to see and listen to the forest and its inhabitants in new ways.
Installation photos by Petter Löfstedt