Market Art Fair

Reawakening the Romantic: A Contemporary Vision by Isak Hall and Ester Eriksson

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Courtesy of CFHILL and Isak Hall

Explore the intersection of nature, imagination, and self-expression in CFHILL’s presentation at Market Art Fair.

For Market Art Fair in May, CFHILL presents a duo-exhibition featuring Swedish artists Isak Hall and Ester Eriksson, where their works merge to create a visionary landscape that reawakens Romantic ideals – with a contemporary twist.

Isak Hall paints ethereal and otherworldly landscapes by blending ancient techniques with modern methods to create art that transcends time and space. His practice delves into both the scientific aspects of the artwork and the mystique surrounding it. Rooted in Renaissance techniques, such as precious pigments, tempera, oil, and varnish on panel, Hall’s paintings evoke otherworldly spaces that feel both timeless and urgent.

Drawing inspiration from historical texts and recipes, Hall uses pigments like ultramarine ash and special glazes to achieve a spectral grey luster reminiscent of Dürer’s paintings. Rather than creating traditional landscape images, Hall explores the interconnectedness of all things in nature. His works aim to affect the viewer on a deeper level, encouraging them to experience the art without the need to ask what they are seeing. His spectral landscapes blur the line between reality and the sublime, capturing an artist captivated by the mysteries of nature.

  • Courtesy of CFHILL and Isak Hall

In contrast, Ester Eriksson’s sculptures introduce an untamed spirit into these dreamlike landscapes. Her raw, free figures embody the Romantic pursuit of personal liberation—a world unbounded by convention and brimming with imagination.

Eriksson’s work spans various mediums such as drawing, painting, film, and sculpture. She describes her practice as “one big impulse,” where one idea naturally leads to another. Her work is deeply autobiographical, drawing on psychology and dream imagery to create worlds where she can experience complete freedom. Ester Eriksson has an MFA from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and won the August Prize in 2020 for her illustrations in Humlan Hanssons Hemligheter. She is also known for her comic strip series Esters Rester, first published in 2017, which has gained significant recognition for its distinct narrative and visual style.

  • Courtesy of CFHILL and Ester Eriksson
  • Courtesy of CFHILL and Ester Eriksson
  • Courtesy of CFHILL and Ester Eriksson

Together, Hall and Eriksson reimagine the familiar through alternate perspectives, bridging technique with instinct, and order with chaos. Their works reflect a modern Scandinavian identity—nostalgic yet rebellious, offering a profound exploration of freedom and self-expression. In an age of increasing rationality, their art reminds us of the “enchanted reality” that lies just beyond the boundaries of the everyday.

About the gallery