Anton Thorstensson / Emma & Conti /Emil Carlsiö /Maria Antchougova / Max Palmdahl / and Stian A. Rasmussen
Digging in Circles
23 May 2025 - 14 June 2025
Walter Benjamin, "Excavation and Memory," in Michael W. Jennings, ed., Selected Writings, vol. 2 (Cambridge, 1999).
In Digging in Circles, the six artists approach history not as a timeline but as a terrain, layered, fractured. Artifacts and symbols carry not only what was, but what could still be.
Their works trace the material residues of collective histories, through different mediums (sculpture, relief, photography, painting, video and sound) used as tools of excavation. The exhibition navigates the speculative nature of digging: as history involves interpretation and a continuous reinterpretation, can one consider cultural memory a material – a process of engaging in decay and/or in preservation?
Maria Antchougova (b. 1994)
Born in Crimea, raised in Belgium, and currently based in Sweden, Maria has a background in drawing, printing, and self-publishing. Her practice is gradually shifting toward clay and sculpture, guided by an interest in what has been cut off, overlooked, or left behind. Influenced by Ariella Aïsha Azoulay’s Potential History, she seeks ways to reconnect with fractured narratives and material memory.
Stian A. Rasmussen (b. 1996 )
Originally from Lørenskog, Norway, and now based in Gothenburg, Stian works with photography to explore the ways nature shapes our perceptions and relationships. His practice focuses on materials, forms, and landscapes—examining both connection and disconnection with the natural world. He is currently studying in the Photography Bachelor Program at HDK-Valand.
Emil Carlsiö (b. 1988)
Emil’s practice centers around painting, often drawing on symbols from flags of stateless nations and temporary collectives. His visual language shifts between landscape and artificial imagery, challenging distinctions between two- and three-dimensional space. References include late-1980s arcade games, film posters, and elements of natural scenery.
Emma & Conti (b. 1986/1994)
Emma & Conti is a Gothenburg-based artist duo formed by Emma Sandström (b. 1986, Sweden) and Stefano Conti (b. 1994, Italy). Their collaborative practice involves sculptural and photographic installations exploring materiality, object perception, and their entanglements with human history. Recent exhibitions include Galleri Format (Malmö, 2023), Atelier NOUA (Bodø, 2022), Northern Photographic Centre (Oulu, 2022), and the Museum of World Cultures (Genova, 2021).
Anton Thorstensson (b. 1993)
Based in Gothenburg, Anton brings a background in music and punk culture into his material-driven practice. He explores sustainability through the use of wood and salvaged materials, aiming to balance aesthetics and function. Graduated from Design in HDK-Valand in 2024.
Max Palmdahl (b. 2000)
Max is a designer based in Gothenburg whose artistic practice expands through glass, ceramics, and metal. Through a continuous experimentation, his work merges craft and art, often resulting in hybrid objects that reflect a deep engagement with materiality and process. Graduated from Beckmans Collage of Design in 2024.