Alberte Agerskov | HOLD ME, HONEY, SOOTHE ME

SWING Design Gallery and Aquapetra Gallery are proud to present the solo exhibition Hold me, Honey, Soothe me, by Alberte Agerskov.
The works by the Danish artist, architect and designer draw on ancient symbols, myths and traditions, in an intimate exploratory dialogue with natural elements and forces including stone, bees’ wax, earth, water and fire. In the exhibition, the rational and structured in the form of architectural and archetypal figures, mix and interchange with the instinctive, spiritual and ritual. The indexical motifs that are traced on the Honey Rug paintings, demonstrate the artist’s research on the woman in ancient initiation rites. Throughout history, female rituals have been well hidden, and one can but fill in the gaps, imagining what may have taken place. Examining the deep roots on which our society is built, the works trace a line connecting old and new feminine natures. Through delicately drawn symbology, Alberte Agerskov relates new narratives in which the woman emerges as a unifying and embracing energy. The amber transparency of the stone works – Onyx Secret, Onyx Incense, Onyx Candle and Onyx Mandala– hand-carved on the island of Ischia, reveals to us the natural processes that formed these precious Onyx marbles. While our passage on Earth is ever so short, the longer lifespan of stones sees them transform and crystallise, settle into strata, buckle and rise, giving birth to mountains. Over time, the stone erodes, providing the context to the succession of different cultures – several of which continue to endure in our modern age. The presented works all treat the idea of a vessel, ambiguously placed between sculpture and functional object. Created with essential oils inspired by the plants that grow in the gardens of Aquapetra, Honey soothe me reveals the exchange between body and matter through a purifying rite: the visitor is encouraged to leave a trace of their passing by cutting a piece from the soap block and in so doing, establish a connection with the natural context / mother nature. 

Alberte Agerskov
Born in Denmark in 1993, Alberte Agerskov lives and works between London and Rome. After graduating in architecture from the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen (Denmark), Alberte Agerskov has worked with the architectural practices, Pezo Von Ellrichshausen (Chile) and Studio Mumbai (India, France). Her artistic and architectural projects are to be found in Denmark, Italy, England and Japan. Recent projects include Utopia Intime, an art project developed during the residency in Via Farini (Milan), The Closet, an interiors project for Saks Potts (Copenhagen) and the solo exhibition Rituals of Gathering at SWING Design Gallery (Benevento). Alberte Agerskov is currently completing a Masters in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, London.

Aquapetra Resort & Spa
Dating back to the mid-19th century, Aquapetra is a sensitively restored hamlet in the heart of Ancient Samnium, Benevento. An oasis nestled amongst the olive groves and holm oak woodland of Monte Pugliano, the 4* boutique hotel has 42 residences, a chapel, Spa, two restaurants including the 1 Michelin starred Locanda del Borgo and indoor and outdoor pools.
Art at Aquapetra
Aquapetra encourages artistic and architectural expression with an experimental project comprising the Art Park (Artist’s Residency) and Gallery, the aim to transform the resort into a continually evolving container for culture, where history and modernity dialogue through art, architecture and nature.
Artistic collaborations: SWING Design Gallery, Collezione Agovino, Galleria T293, Galleria Umberto di Marino, Galleria Gilda Lavia, Italics Art, Art Days, Martìn Soto Climent, Chiara Camoni, Eugenio Tibaldi, Petra Feriancova, Alberte Agerskov, Marco Pio Mucci.
Works in situ: Alberte Agerskov, Martìn Soto Climent, Chiara Camoni, Adrian Tranquilli, Luca Bertolo, Florence Henri, Salvino Campos.