'Frontiers' by Camilla Edström Ödemark at Gallery 54, Gothenburg

“The emptiness of space is paradoxically claustrophobic. For those who seek to conquer, the thought of a nothingness is frightening. Still, space is ever-present in our Western culture. Out of punishment or out of self-righteousness, we are drawn to narratives of malignant life-forms with superior technical advancement, who seek to colonize the human race. “

“Alien Nation” (2016)

Focusing on science fiction, Camilla Edström Ödemark’s exhibition “Frontiers” draws parallels between utopian colonisation of space, the dystopian invasion of Earth, and the Western colonisation of Africa. Addressing the role of the monstrous alien as a tool to form the traditional Western worldview, “Frontiers” highlights colonial structures that continue to exert influence on the Western identity, mentality and culture. The work of Edström Ödemark suggests that what is played out in the darkest corners of space, might in fact take place in our own backyard.