Jonny Forsström
Encyclopedia
Jonny Forsström is a self taught Swedish
picture artist, sculptor, and film maker.
His creativity flow always starts with quick sketch and animation; usually at night when his inner censorship is at its lowest threshold.
, Lappland, Sweden. Jonny got glasses as a six-year-old, and in the 1950s that was a sure sign of weakness that would rule out soccer and wild kids' play. But for the first time, he got to see things clearly and he could be a by-standing voyeur taking note of people's gestures.
He had a variety of jobs after his school years; he was a sailor, a shipyard worker, in the hotel business in Gothenburg and Stockholm, and barely got by. His newly discovery of art gave him hope and a new sense of freedom, a new awakening of the world.
and Asger Jorn
; a brightly-hued, billowing and undulating style.
Early 1970s the trend was childishly smeared colorful baseball bats and daring figures in the form of octopuses. Some figures had the ability to fly to escape fences. Gauguin’s interest in the “innocence” of the native Tahitians. Soutine with his distorted physiofnomies. De Kooning and his sprawling grimacing bodies. Pollock
’s convulsed “dripping.” Jonny points to a book of Marino Marini
’s paintings from the 1960s and suggests “They are just like Baselintz and Lupertz, only twenty years earlier” and “Nolde and Kirchner are really primitive,” which is a high praise of Jonny’s. Roberto Matta
’s almost electric colors. Jonny once watched Malcolm Morley
paint in his New York studio.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
picture artist, sculptor, and film maker.
Art
He has delivered a swarm of uninhibited, colorful, and fun-loving stories through his colorful art since the mid 1960s. His art is innovative and fantasy based painting motifs in very strong colors. The challenge is to reach beyond technically skillful artistry to obtain a direct and true expression. His art contains family members, friends, moose, exotic animals, strange primitive creatures, morphing characters, ensouled trees, and nature in theatrical settings. Strange occurrences, movements, gestures and relationship build energy, drama, and expectations in the pictures that leave them open and enigmatic.His creativity flow always starts with quick sketch and animation; usually at night when his inner censorship is at its lowest threshold.
Philosophy
He does not believe in what he sees or touch. He only believes in what he does not see but can still feel. It is the feeling of the wonderful world of fantasy where it all happens. He hopes that his images transport people to that other place.Early life
Jonny was borne in Stora Möckleby, Öland, Sweden, but he grew up in the mining town MalmbergetMalmberget
Malmberget is a locality and mining town situated in Gällivare Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 6,017 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated 5 kilometres from the municipal seat Gällivare....
, Lappland, Sweden. Jonny got glasses as a six-year-old, and in the 1950s that was a sure sign of weakness that would rule out soccer and wild kids' play. But for the first time, he got to see things clearly and he could be a by-standing voyeur taking note of people's gestures.
He had a variety of jobs after his school years; he was a sailor, a shipyard worker, in the hotel business in Gothenburg and Stockholm, and barely got by. His newly discovery of art gave him hope and a new sense of freedom, a new awakening of the world.
Exhibitions
- 1990 Parafras Piero della Francesca, Konsthallen Trollhättan, Sweden
- 2006 Konsthallen Trollhättan, Sweden. Various oil, sketches, aquarelle and sculpture.
Galleries exhibiting/represented
- Gabrielle Bryers Gallery, New York, USA
- Northern Light Ltd. California, USA
- Galerie Studio Four, London, ENGLAND
- Gallerie Bleu, Paris, FRANCE
- Galerie Peuples et Continents, Bryssel, BELGIUM
- Art 76, Basel, SWITZERLAND
- Galleri Otenti, Antwerp, HOLLAND
- Galeri Arnesen, Copenhagen, DENMARK
- Art Now Gallery, Gothenburg, SWEDEN
Influences and artistic trajectory
His inspirations in the late 1960s were Carl-Henning PedersenCarl-Henning Pedersen
Carl-Henning Pedersen was a Danish painter and a key member of the COBRA movement. He was known as the "Scandinavian Chagall", and was one of the leading Danish artists of the second half of the 20th century....
and Asger Jorn
Asger Jorn
Asger Oluf Jorn was a Danish painter, sculptor, ceramic artist, and author. He was a founding member of the avant-garde movement COBRA and the Situationist International...
; a brightly-hued, billowing and undulating style.
Early 1970s the trend was childishly smeared colorful baseball bats and daring figures in the form of octopuses. Some figures had the ability to fly to escape fences. Gauguin’s interest in the “innocence” of the native Tahitians. Soutine with his distorted physiofnomies. De Kooning and his sprawling grimacing bodies. Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
’s convulsed “dripping.” Jonny points to a book of Marino Marini
Marino Marini
Marino Marini was an Italian sculptor. -Biography:He attended the Accademia Di Belle Arti in Florence in 1917. Although he never abandoned painting, Marini devoted himself primarily to sculpture from about 1922. From this time his work was influenced by Etruscan art and the sculpture of Arturo...
’s paintings from the 1960s and suggests “They are just like Baselintz and Lupertz, only twenty years earlier” and “Nolde and Kirchner are really primitive,” which is a high praise of Jonny’s. Roberto Matta
Roberto Matta
Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren , better known as Roberto Matta, was one of Chile's best-known painters and a seminal figure in 20th century abstract expressionist and surrealist art....
’s almost electric colors. Jonny once watched Malcolm Morley
Malcolm Morley
Malcolm Morley is an English artist now living in the United States. He is best known as a photorealist.-Early life:Morley was born in north London. He had a troubled childhood, and did not discover art until serving a three-year stint in Wormwood Scrubs prison...
paint in his New York studio.