Henrik Soederstroem - Spirit Interface [March 7th to 23rd, 2024]

On March 7th, Henrik Soederstroem presented the solo exhibition “Spirit Interface” at Killscreen.

The spirit interface is a point of contact with extra-human subjectivities we cannot fully comprehend or define, forces that exert influence without fully revealing themselves; the occult flow of commodities and capital, arcane sub-layers of virtual space, the eerie allure of found objects, the haunting and the sublime in art.

Soederstroem’s mixed media installations dissect familiar motifs from digital media and games, transforming everyday items into unfamiliar artifacts. He draws on horror film and game aesthetics and viral online folklore, tapping into the subconscious anxieties and dark desires they express.

Works

Henrik presented the works “Dunya” from 2021 and “Troubles of Presence I-IV” from 2023. Both were created in the Unity 3D gaming platform and presented live as generative video or non-interactive games.“Dunya” shows two planes of existence in the same simulated world—one influenced by simple 2D automata and another in a gothic 3D style reminiscent of PlayStation 2-era horror games. Though separate at first glance, after watching the piece, it becomes apparent that events and characters cross over between the two worlds.

“Troubles of Presence” is a four-part generative video about the hidden agencies of objects inspired by discarded items and disused spaces around Los Angeles. The objects used in the video are also displayed in the space, mirroring the virtual and physical worlds.

Henrik presented a work in progress titled “Sufferer’s Courage” (a loose translation of the Swedish word for patience: tålamod). This kinetic fabric sculpture is part of exploring the poetics of computer graphics software and simulated objects. The piece turned the states and parameters of CG fabric simulation – tension and release, rigidity and flexibility – into conceptual and material metaphors.

About the Artist

A Swedish artist and musician based in LA, Soederstroem’s work spans computer graphics, generative programming, audio experimentation, immersive installation, drawing, and poetry. He holds an MFA in Media Art from UCLA (2023), is an active contributor to the Free The Land artist collective, and has performed extensively in the US and Europe with the noise music project Händer Som Vårdar.

Programming

Opening reception: Thursday March 7th, 6 PM – 9 PM

Artist talk (with Mikkel Rørbo): Saturday, March 16th, 1 PM

Closing reception and music performances: Saturday, March 23nd, 6 PM – 10 PM

The night featured music performances that complemented the exhibition with Lawrence Chit, Jaded Chakra, and Henrik Soederstroem.

Lawrence Chit is an LA-based artist, musician, and underground scene legend. He has shown work at Phase Gallery and Ingrams and performed as Contorted Corpse, Malamygdala, and FxTxL, to name a few.

Jaded Chakra is a new venture by the operator behind the experimental techno project Avenue Zero, known for performances at Dust LA and United Selector Network