Octopus Painting

A reoccurring theme in Andreas Englunds´ work is about challenging stereotypes. Mostly recognised is his depicting of the everyday life of an anonymous superhero. The series ranges from the superhero’s first mission as a toddler to being an old man, still struggling with everyday trivialities. ”Some stereotypes are referred to as good and desirable, some stereotypes are referred to as bad or degrading. Degrading stereotypes leads to negative perceptions of what we are able to achieve as persons. But mostly: stereotypes are boring! There’s nothing more uninteresting than a happy person living a perfect life for instance. And that’s why breaking down stereotypes and challenging preconceptions will always be more interesting than to accept them.” The comical perfectionism in the motifs is the unique feature of the art series. ”Humor is the means by which I make my motifs immediate and accessible. It carries an initial message that grows with the viewer. The manner in which I convey my stories also helps me from being limited either by pretentiousness or banality. On a personal level, it’s a universe where I feel comfortable to share my own mistakes and shortcomings – and handle the stress of not being perfect.”