Fredrik Söderberg

Fredrik Söderberg is represented by three diptychs created during his current Iaspis studio residency in London. Part of his activities there consist of doing research for Aleister Crowley’s Snowdrops from a Curate’s Garden (1904),
which he plans to publish in spring 2012 with his own illustrations and an new introduction. The book will be published by EDDA, the publishing company Söderberg runs with Carl Abrahamson, which specialises in esoteric literature. The watercolours “Snowdrops from a Curate’s Garden 1, 2 & 3” are a few of the illustrations. Fredrik Söderberg lives and works in Stockholm.
Aleister Crowley (by Carl Abrahamsson)
“Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was one of the ‘bad boys' of English literature, working in the same vein as the poetic provocateur Oscar Wilde. Although mainly writing poetry, Crowley also produced novels, dramas and texts on various aspects of occultism.
To amuse his wife Rose during her pregnancy in 1904, Crowley wrote a number of pornographic texts. He exerted himself to his utmost, aided by a rude slang dictionary. He eventually published the result himself (secretly) under the title Snowdrops from a Curate's Garden.
Tasteless? Maybe, or maybe not. People do what they do, but very few are willing to stand up for it. Even fewer can express themselves in prose or poetry that is gripping, entertaining or upsetting. Today, Crowley is considered a pioneer for his honesty, sexual tolerance and intellectual sharpness. His Snowdrops is an excellent, albeit highly pornographic, expression of how devlish lust can be refined into potent poetry. In our contemporary times, characterised by general tastelessness and vulgarity on all levels, the tables are suddenly turned. It is intelligence, forthrightness and articulation that represent common sense and good manners, while those who usually voice their moral complaints are writhing in their own fear.”
In his watercolours, Fredrik Söderberg explores the unknown through references from many disparate sources. He is fascinated by occultism and esoterica and by finding links between cultures. Throughout the ages, the inquisitive mind has experienced that generally accepted truths are insufficient when it comes to explaining the supernatural. Söderberg sees art as a way of attaining other, alternative mental states and worlds. Animals and beasts, naked and half-naked people, especially women, fill his images. Some of them have horns, and everywhere indefinable scenes are in progress. Is this a world full of absurdity, is this a mythological world of Greek goddesses and other creatures, an orgy, or are they performing rituals or occult ceremonies? Is this a world based on astrology and magic? Are those noble ladies or witches? Is this an enchanted world or a reflection of what is taking place in our subconscious?
www.fredriksoderberg.org
Courtesy Galleri Riis