Mats Gustafson November

Imagine a world immersed in a light, cold blanket, walking outside and taking a breath of the cold air, viewing everything as if through a shaded lens. A world where the winter sun casts a misty light on a low horizon, where the morning or evening fog never seems to quite ease, and there is only a hint of the sun’s existence. This is November by Mats Gustafson, a series of depictions of a sombre world in autumn.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the month of November is a time when nature slows down, and we ponder questions of life and death. In the exhibition November Gustafson’s artistry reflects that honest and fragile disposition that is so characteristic of the season. His artwork highlights the magic of autumn in a way that is both heartbreakingly beautiful and poetic. 

The collection shows us a variety of his craftmanship; included in the exhibition are portrait-like works of deer, trees, rocks, water-filled landscapes, and the swans that are so dear to him. Many of the landscapes are inner places that he knows well. It is not a given where these landscapes come from – the reflecting bodies of water could be anywhere – but for Gustafson, these are specific thoughts and declarations of love that we see take place in the paintings.

In contrast to the fashion portraits exhibited previously at CFHILL, the works in November appear softer, more serene and intimate. There is a distinct dualism in his oeuvre, the urban versus nature – and November is an expression of the latter.

Everything that Mats Gustafson directs his special attention to turns into something precious. It awakens an existential need in the viewer, a desire to pause and hold on to the fleeting beauty around us.