Monica Sjöö: Exhibition at Beaconsfield Gallery – Review by Lenja Gloger

Monica Sjöö: Exhibition at Beaconsfield Gallery – Review by Lenja Gloger

”The time is NOW and it is overdue!“

What is the first thing that comes to your mind upon reading this slogan?

If it is in any way connected to meaningfully tackling climate change or issues of social justice, especially feminism, then the newest exhibition at the Beaconsfield Gallery in Vauxhall in cooperation with the Feminist Library is absolutely worth a visit. It is currently displaying over 50 paintings by the late artist and activist Monica Sjöö.

Monica Sjöö was born in Sweden in 1938 and relocated to Great Britain very early on. Until she died of cancer in 2005, she travelled all over Europe and dedicated her life and art to activism. She is especially remembered for her ecofeminist ideas and for being one of the leading figures in the so-called Goddess movement. Her surprisingly large, multi-layered paintings gracefully combine spirituality with political issues and calls to action.

On the opening night of the exhibition at the Beaconsfield Gallery, Sjöö‘s lifelong dedication to these topics was honoured with a special ceremony developed by Linda Persson and Tears|Ov. It was held in memory of the first twelve women to be killed for allegedly being witches in Småland, Sweden. The effect of the ritual on the audience matched that of Sjöö’s paintings – even those who did not personally connect to the spiritual aspects of it greatly enjoyed the opportunity to remember the real people behind the familiar stories. In a similar way, Sjöö’s paintings do a remarkable job of expressing the complex emotions connected to living in a time of environmental destruction, systemic oppression, personal loss, and the deep desire to reconnect to something more-than-human, whatever that may be in each individual case.

The exhibition is open until 10 September 2022. In addition to the artwork on display, there will also be several accompanying events throughout its whole running time. For more information on both the exhibition and the live programme, visit the Gallery’s website at beaconsfield.ltd.uk