Oil on canvas

155 × 122.5 cm. 61 × 48 1/4 in.

Signed and located in English, dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the artist

Maiden's Utopia
Camilla Engstrom's Iconic Masterpiece Emerges

At the 2023 Guardian Hong Kong Autumn Auction, the artwork Day and Night in March by the artist Camilla Engstrom achieved a groundbreaking sale of HKD 720,000, setting a new world auction record. Even prior to this, she had captured the attention of many collectors with her imaginative depictions and rich, warm palette, making her a sought-after emerging artist in the primary art market. Her latest creation, Husa and Sun, presented in the Spring auction, not only contributes to her landscape-themed portfolio but also stands as a significant representation of her captivating character series.

The Birth of Husa

As a Eurasian, Camilla Engstrom received education from both the East and the West, nurturing her passion for art. After graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York, she worked as a fashion designer for brands like J.Crew and Calvin Klein. Since becoming a full-time artist in 2016, her first iconic theme emerged in the form of the enchanting and carefree elfin maiden, Husa. With her big eyes, long hair, and innocence, Husa stands in stark contrast to the cool, refined supermodels on the runway, conveying a genuine reverence for Mother Nature and a sincere yearning for purity and simplicity.

The Flow of Scenery, Awakening of Identity

In Husa and Sun, the protagonist sports cascading, curly, deep-blue hair, resembling the artist's landscape paintings "flowing rivers" with their overlapping shades. Bare-chested, her healthy bronze skin appears kissed by the sun, radiating warmth. Symbolizing nature, her green eyes gaze downward, while the lower half of the artwork showcases Engstrom's classic landscape lexicon. A tranquil, graceful river in shades of blue flows, with the golden sun artfully obscuring the left breast, floating on the water. The elevated islands echo the artist's "chimneys" in landscapes, becoming a subtle allusion to "sexuality". The subject's direct and candid gaze introduces a pioneering perspective on the sexual liberation and autonomous expression of the new generation of women. Through a gentle and playful character portrayal against a fairy-tale backdrop, she eloquently presents her viewpoint. Behind the sweet imagery lies a reflection of contemporary issues.

The Transformative Beauty of Nature, Dreams of Utopia

Since relocating her studio and residence from the underground of New York to the open and bright Los Angeles in 2018, Engstrom’s artistic themes have expanded, effortlessly combining landscapes and character studies. The environment has brought her abundant inspiration, evident in Husa and Sun, where, beneath Engstrom's clean and refined lines, water, sky, mountains, and the sun harmoniously converge in the witness of the maiden, narrating the natural transformations of time and space in this corner of the universe.

Price estimate:
HKD: 160,000 – 200,000
USD: 20,400 - 25,500

Auction Result:
HKD: 204,000