overview in English
This site consists mainly of pictures - understandable in any language...However it also includes texts about my way of working and current and earlier projects. On this page you find a short introduction and an English version of some of those texts. For earlier works and commissions the pictures have to speak for themselves.
about Ralf (om Ralf)
I produce sculptures and drawings for exhibitions and on commission. The sculptures are mainly in wood, but I also use other materials such as terracotta, plastic, concrete, bronze, etc.
My method of working has been built up over a long time. I have tried a lot of techniques and means of expression through the years, leading up doing what I´m doing at present. I have increasingly tended to work on themes. A simple idea, jotted down on a sketchpad, can turn out to be something worth developing - in some cases growing into a theme that can keep me occupied for several years. One thing leads to another and in the end I am not really quite sure what it is I am doing... When I get to the point when I can´t go any further there is, hopefully, another theme waiting to be developed.
small creature (litet djur)
I've been working on the theme "litet djur" for a couple of years now. Despite what might seem to be narrow limitations, to me it's a theme with great content. I regard it as a synthesis of much of what I've done over the years - from the numerous sketches, drawings and sculpturing during my years at art schools to the animal- and human-like sculptures and objects I've produced later. Public reactions indicate that these small creatures lead to a great spectrum of associations. I call them "small creatures" but of course, each one deals with aspects of human behavior.
These small sculptures are created from wood with a thin coating of egg oil tempera. They are put together using lots of smaller pieces (sometimes up to 20) in order to get the wood grain in the right direction and make it possible to carve the limbs as slender as desired. That takes some time... To me the challenge is to make very small sculptures with maximum content, expression, sincerity and dignity.
The small creature drawings (teckningar) originate from the concept of the sculptures. Initially they were "accessories" to the sculptures, but later they started living lives of their own.
My commissioned works (uppdrag) can be very different from exhibition peaces. The 2006 Nils Holgersson sculpture was made to celebrate that 100 years has passed since Nobel Prize-winner Selma Lagerlöf´s book first was published. The bronze-sculpture is in Karlskrona. In 2007 I was commissioned to produce a wooden sculpture, Sankta Maria for a church. And in 2009 I have been working on two new commissions.
If the information found here is not enough, I'll be glad to answer any questions by e-mail.
Ralf Borselius . Vallby 81 . S-27656 Hammenhög . Sweden . tel +46 (0)414 32130 . ralf@borselius.com
