Diamonds and Dirt on the Windshield of the Skidder, How to deal with the mental effects of pollution, Dreamcatchers, The New Hird, 2024
Inseparable Distance
Over time, modern societies increasingly see humans as separate from nature, driven by Western beliefs in human superiority over a passive natural world. Modernity and capitalism reinforce humans as central, unrestricted by natural limits, viewing nature as valuable only for utility. These ideas shape how societies interact with the environment. Sweden’s relationship with nature balances environmental stewardship with capitalist pressures. Allemansrätten, the Swedish law for equal access to nature, faces challenges from resource extraction, commercialization, and tourism. Inseparable Distance unites nine Swedish-based artists exploring humanity’s intersection and proximity with the natural world through diverse media, offering ecological insights, cultural critique, and visions of the future.
Images, installation views:
Ylva Westerlund
Diamonds and Dirt on the Windshield of the Skidder, 2021-2023
Ylva Westerlund explores industrial-nature relationships in her graphic book “The New Hird”(2017). The stories shift across time, depicting collisions between local and global processes in a setting reminiscent of a rejuvenated Big Bang. Characters interact amidst gas clouds and profound reactions. “Diamonds and Dirt on the Windshield of the Skidder,” a work on tarpaulin, features blownup drawings evoking scenes from a wetland. These portray views akin to those seen through a forest machine’s window, revealing landscapes coming alive. Located in Husum, Västernorrland, Sweden, this ongoing series reflects Westerlund’s upbringing and critiques perpetual industrial influences on memory and environment over time
