coral garden
We are pleased to present new lithographs by Magnus Dahl. Coral Garden I and II are two lithographs depicting coral reefs. Coral holds a special meaning for Magnus Dahl. In 2004, he survived the tsunami that hit South East Asia thanks to a coral reef that offered protection when the waves swept over the Thai coast. Since then, corals have been present in his visual world in various ways.
Two variants of Coral Garden II, hand-coloured lithography
â The works initially became a kind of reverence in action for coral as a form of life.
Soon Magnus Dahl's coral images began to be designed as walls, where the coral motif covers almost the entire image surface. A small glimpse of the water behind can sometimes appear at the top.
Test prints of Coral Garden I
â For me, there is something protective and sustaining in such a composition and I want to emphasize that. At the same time, it borders on a feeling of confinement.
In the artistic investigation of coral, Magnus Dahl sees a kinship with the paintings of the Danish painting giant Per Kirkeby, which are partly based on the artist's experiences as a geologist.
â In Kirkebyâs paintings I experience a form of âmyopiaâ that I recognize in my own work. You are there, close by, with your nose in the ground or the reef.
Corals have now also taken new shape in stone and Magnus Dahl is working with a series of sculptures in, among other things, marble.
Coral Garden sculptures
â Softer kinds of stone are often made up of dead coral that has been transformed into limestone and marble over the millennia. This becomes a beautiful, but also sad act, as the dead coral comes back to life through the sculpting.
About the artworks
Coral Garden are lithographs printed at Black Heart Press in SmÄland. The artist works directly on large limestones that are treated in various stages and then used in the large printing press.
Coral Garden I is printed in an edition of 35 and measures 70.5x48 cm.
Coral Garden II is printed in series and then hand-colored so that each sheet is unique. The work is slightly smaller at 53.5x42 cm.
The two lithographic stones ready to print from
Work on a marble sculpture
