Liljevalch's scholarship collaboration with Villa San Michele on Capri is in its third year. The 2021 scholarship, worth SEK 50,000 and three weeks' free stay in the most beautiful of settings, is awarded to artist, writer and musician Johannes Heldén.
"Text has a natural place in Johannes Heldén's work as a visual artist, he is a poet and that carries over into art. The works are surrounded by the aura of seriousness, they are carefully executed, cryptically evocative - and beautiful", the jury writes in its motivation and continues: "Villa San Michele is an experience of beauty for all the senses. Johannes Heldén's work, which spans text, image and music, should find a perfect breeding ground for inspiration in the dreamy atmosphere of the Villa."
Johannes Heldén was born in 1978 and studied at Valands Art Academy. In 2003 he made his debut as a writer with Burner and since then twelve titles have been published. As a musician, he has released three full-length albums.
In addition to Mårten Castenfors, director of Liljevalchs, and Kristina Kappelin, curator of Villa San Michele, the scholarship jury included artists Henrik Samuelsson and Susanne Vollmer.
Villa San Michele has now resumed its operations after periodic closures during the 2020 pandemic year. Unless the spread of the disease picks up, Johannes Heldén will be able to take advantage of the scholarship from 12 September to 2 October, otherwise his stay will be postponed.
There will be no scholarship award ceremony in the sculpture hall at Liljevalchs this year either, but as in 2020 only digital presentation on Liljevalchs website and in our social media. Further information can be found in Villa San Michele's corresponding channels.