Elina Birkehag (*1989, Dalarna, lives and works in Stockholm) explores writing and inscription in relation to its surface, time, and context. With a background and education in graphic design, she is driven by a fascination with the power and expression of language, how writing as a system is both something we have historically formed over time and constantly shaped by in return today. The relationship between text and body is central to her work and the texts are playing with the visual and performative, sound, rhythm, ambiguity, trial and error. Her work is mediated through a variety of disciplines, including publications, photography, short films, wall drawings, installations, and performances. Birkehag graduated with an MFA from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and previously holds a BA from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.
CV
Education
2023 The Royal Institute of Arts, Stockholm, SE
2018 Gerrit Rietveld Academy Design & Fine Arts. Graphic Design, NE
2016 Cooper Union School Of Arts, Exchange semester, USA
2013 The College of Printmaking Arts, SE
2012 Stenebyskolan, SE
Selection of Exhibitions and Performances
2023
Anna-Lisa Thomson till minne Stipendiatutställning, group show, Uppsala Konstmuseum, SE
Dalakonst23, group show, Dalarnas Museum, SE
IAG ÄR HÄR, Körsbärsgården, SE
Från svartvitt till färgrikt, group show, Dalarnas Museum, SE
D SOM I DOTTER, solo show, Orsa Konsthall, SE
MFA Degree Show, Konstakademien, SE
MOUTH TO WALL, solo show, Galleri Mejan, SE
2022
Non Knowledge, Laughter and the Moving image symposium, group show, HFBK Hamburg, DE
Non Knowledge, Laughter and the Moving image symposium, group show, Index - The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, SE
Rörelser, Borlänge Modern, group show, SE
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, DE
2021
Tungan jobbar, solo show, Galleri Hörnan & Galleri Svarta Gran, SE
Liljevalchs Vårsalong, group show, Stockholm, SE
One Million Years, group show, Royal Institute of Arts, SE
2020
Liljevalchs Vårsalong, Group Exhibition, Stockholm SE
I det Oönskades Tecken, Bland önskade Monument, Åttifjärde Konsthallen SE
2019
Ornamental Rest, Group Exhibition, Laurier Project Space, Amsterdam, NE
Reading and Writing with Andreas Züst, performance at Material, Zurich, CH
Listening and Mapping as Choreographic Tool of Getting Lost, Workshop/Practicum/Lecture at SVIG Performance Center, St Petersburg, RU
2018
My Left Hand, It Writes AAA..., Graduation Exhibition, Amsterdam, NE
One Act Play, The Loveliest of Graduates, Group exhibition, Academie Galleri, Utrecht, NE
2017
Always in Risk, Yet Never in Danger, Group exhibition, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NE
Conversation About A Forgotten Painting, Solo Exhibition. Falun Hospital, Falun, SE
2016
This Morning I Brushed My Teeth, Group Exhibition, Cooper Union, NY, USA
Awards and Scholarships
2023
Ann-Margret Lindells Stipendium
Stiftelsen Anna-Lisa Thomson till minne
Scholarship for young artists, Konstakademien
Fredrika Bremers scholarship
2022
Konstakademien, grant for young artists
Getfotsfondens scholarship
2021
The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, project grant
2020
Länsstyrelsen Dalarna grant
Region Dalarnas Grant
Längmanska Culture Funds
2019
Helge Ax:sons scholarship
IASPIS The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, traveling fund
2018
IASPIS The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Traveling Found
2016
Helge Ax:sons foundation scholarship
August Ringners Scholarship
Artist in residence
2019
Biblothek Andreas Züst, St Anton.
NCCA Art Residence Kronstadt, St Petersburg
2017
Art Unit of Dalarna, Landstinget Dalarna, Falun
Given Workshops and Teaching
2023
Guest teaching, Stenebyskolan, SE
2022
Guest teaching, Stenebyskolan, SE
2021
Guest teaching, Stenebyskolan, SE
2020
Guest lecture, Konstfack, SE
Guest teaching, Stenebyskolan, SE
Listening Workshop, Konstfack, SE
2019
Listening and Mapping as Choreographic Tool of Getting Lost, Workshop/Practicum/Lecture at SDVIG Performance Center, St Petersburg (RU)
Writing Together, in collaboration with ‘The Best Summer’, Falun Municipality, SE
Image and Text Workshop at Steneby, School of Arts and Design SE
2018
Writing Workshop ‘My Left Hand, It Writes AAA’, Conijnstraat 26, Amsterdam, NL
Writing Workshop ‘My Left Hand, It Writes AAA’, Studio Stenkolsgatan, SE
Writing Workshop ‘My Left Hand, It Writes AAA’, Fornby Folkhögskola of Art, SE
Image and Text Workshop at Steneby, School of Arts and Design, SE