Fredrik Sjöberg: entomologist, collector, and writer on forgotten artists
Fredrik Sjöberg, a Swedish writer and entomologist born in Västervik in 1958, participated in the I Boreali festival in Venice to promote his book, L'arte della fuga (Iperborea 2017), which pays tribute to the nearly forgotten artist Gunnar Widforss. During his discussion at Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi with Paolo Nori, Sjöberg referred to Widforss as a "loser" he hopes to bring back into the limelight. Renowned for his earlier work, L'arte di collezionare mosche (Iperborea 2015), Sjöberg combines elements of biography, art, and collecting. Although he was invited to the Venice Biennale in 2009, he could not attend. Within two weeks, he emerged as the foremost authority on Widforss and prefers exploring "losers" over celebrated figures like Damien Hirst, whom he critiques, finding contemporary art more relatable than Renaissance works.
Key facts
- Fredrik Sjöberg is a Swedish writer and entomologist born in 1958.
- He was in Venice for the I Boreali festival organized by Iperborea.
- His book L'arte della fuga (2017) focuses on forgotten painter Gunnar Widforss.
- Sjöberg's collection of hoverflies was shown at the 2009 Venice Biennale.
- He became the world's top expert on Widforss in two weeks.
- Widforss is known in the US alongside Ansel Adams but obscure in Europe.
- Sjöberg prefers studying 'losers' over star artists like Damien Hirst.
- He finds contemporary art more understandable than Renaissance art.
Entities
Artists
- Fredrik Sjöberg
- Gunnar Widforss
- Ansel Adams
- Damien Hirst
- Paolo Nori
- Daniel Birnbaum
Institutions
- Iperborea
- Palazzo Grassi
- Moderna Museet
- Artribune
Locations
- Västervik
- Sweden
- Venice
- Italy
- United States
- Europe
- Stockholm