Ricard Larsson

=Ricard Larsson=
Ricard Larsson (born 21 March 1953 in Stockholm) is a Swedish artist, sculptor and painter, currently based and working in Berlin. 
==Life==
Born in Stockholm in 1953, Ricard Larsson studied painting and sculpture at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, before settling in his workshop near Florence. Around 2005, he and his girlfriend relocated to Berlin. Here he set up his Uferhallen art studio, where he has been dedicated to perfecting his art for the past 20 years. According to Larsson, this workspace is perfect for his creation of sculptures and paintings, because of the ceiling windows lighting up the studio hall from above. 
==Work==
===Technique===
Ricard Larsson creates both paintings and sculptures, mostly using black materials for both. He creates his large sculptures using black wax, because this gives the best idea of what the sculpture will look like in bronze. He creates the large sculptures while working piece by piece, adding them onto the existing structure one by one. After heating Larsson has about 5 minutes time to give the material its final shape, often leaving clear kneading- and fingerprints in the sculptures. These are visible when looking at the sculptures from up close. The time it takes to finish his pieces varies, sometimes it takes hours, other instances it takes years to complete a final piece. After completion, a negative mold is made, which happens at the Noack bronze foundry in Berlin. Then, the pieces are cast in bronze.
Larsson makes his paintings with (usually black) oil paint, ink or acrylic paint on paper.
===Themes===
The major themes addressed in Ricard Larsson’s work are the same in both his sculptures and paintings and have driven him to make art for over 40 years. In his art, Larsson critiques the state of our world, and he has claimed that by doing so, it is easier for him to be part of this world. Brutality, senseless violence and human (failure to) control the aggression instinct are some of the themes Larsson touches on in his art. For example, some of his art features weapons of mass destruction. He also emphasizes the contrast between the natural and technological. Many of his sculptures depict crowds of human figures crawling in and around built structures or pieces of technology like a plane or escalator. Most scenarios in Larssons art are dystopian and aggressive, as they are aimed at criticizing the systems controlling the world we live in. 
==Exhibitions==
* 2023: “Nuclear Black”, BARK BERLIN GALLERY, Berlin
* 2023: artKarlsruhe, BARK BERLIN GALLERY, Karlsruhe
* 2022: “Black Metall”, BARK BERLIN GALLERY
* 2018: Werkstattgalerie Hermann Noack, Berlin
* 2011: Vestfossen, Norway
* 1998: Galerie Movitz, Stockholm
* 1995: Halmstad Konsthall, Halmstad
* 1995: Galleri PS Gothenburg
* 1993: Fabriken, Gothenburg
* 1992: Wärmamo Kunsthalle
* 1989: Augeli Gallery, Stockholm
* 1986: Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm
* 1985: Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm
* 1983: Galleri Händer, Stockholm
* 1980: Galleri Händer, Stockholm
Category:1953 births
Category:People from Stockholm
Category:Swedish people
Category:Swedish artists
Category:Sculptors
Category:Painters