Christine Ödlund Visits NEHMA for Museum + Music Series
The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA) at Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts presents “Contemporary Resonances: The Art and Music of Christine Ödlund.” The Sunday, Nov. 16, event is described as a lecture-recital and is part of the “Museum and Music” series and beings at 3 p.m.
Ödlund, a contemporary artist who lives and works in Sweden, has been described as an artist whose works are experimental and improvisational. Her focus is to connect the abstract with the concrete in an unforeseen way. Ödlund works within most visual mediums with much of her work being conceptual. In addition, she is also a composer of electroacoustic composition.
“Christine Ödlund is on the ascent in the European art and music world, and it is a special honor to host her at USU for a lecture-recital of her work to mark the closing of ‘Enchanted Modernities: Mysticism, Landscape, and the American West,’” said Christopher Scheer, assistant professor of musicology in the Caine College of the Arts and one of the curators of the exhibition.
The exhibit argues that the dynamic intersections between mystical movements, ideas and the landscapes of the American West were significant for the work of a wide range of artists who sought to create spiritual and enchanted forms of modern art and music in the 20th century.
“In many ways Ödlund’s work highlights the influence of Theosophy on the arts, pushing the questions the exhibition raised about this from the past into the realm of contemporary art practice, not only in the United States but also around the world,” said Scheer. “Ödlund’s work is a compelling and vibrant example of the ongoing fascination Theosophy has for musicians and artists alike.”
Ödlund explores theosophical texts and thought in many of her works. Her exhibitions are often more than solely a visual experience, instead invoking many heightened senses and new experiences, said Scheer.
“Ödlund represents the continuing influence of Theosophy and its ideas on modern artists,” said Scheer. “I think she would consider herself someone who is interested and inspired by theosophical ideas.”
Ödlund has studied Annie Besant, a prominent British socialist, theosophist and women’s rights activist whose book, Thought Forms, is on display in the exhibition. Many artists featured in the exhibition were familiar with the book, which contained three pictures called “Thought Forms of Music.” They are a visual representation of how theosophists wanted to find a connection between music and the visual arts. She explores claims about mystical, spiritual and occult worlds as if they were scientific hypotheses.
Frieze, a leading magazine of contemporary arts and culture, says Ödlund’s art celebrates Besant’s maxim that the “denial of all outside of our own limited experience is absurd.”
Frieze also says Ödlund has paid homage to Besant’s influence and inspiration by breathing animated life into the 1901 drawing Besant made of the “thought form” she witnessed rising from the music of Charles Gounod. Ödlund is actively and systematically producing wonder about the imperceptible realm.
Scheer says Ödlund’s presentation at NEHMA will embody her multimedia approach to art and is influenced by her interaction with theosophical ideas, visual art and music from the past.
“We are thrilled to have Swedish artist and musician Christine Ödlund perform as part of our new Museum and Music series,” said Katie Lee Koven, director of NEHMA. “This series is intended to be a casual Sunday afternoon event featuring music that relates and responds to artwork currently on view in the museum. Ödlund’s performance will connect directly to the ‘Enchanted Modernities’ exhibition and will be our last public event in conjunction with this wonderful exhibition.”
“Contemporary Resonances: The Art and Music of Christine Ödlund” is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Andrea DeHaan at the museum by calling (435) 797-7239 or see the museum’s website.
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Writer: Whitney Schulte, 435-797-9203, whitney.schulte@usu.edu
Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu
An example of Christine Ödlund's art from the book "Thought Forms," 2010, video projection of animated drawing, Styrofoam, wood and drawings. Dimension: 240 x 110 x 60 cm.
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