Biography


Born: in Stockholm, Sweden
Settled: Stockholm
Webpage: www.sofiatolis.se


Education

1993–99 Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design (Master of Fine Arts), Stockholm, Sweden

1990-91 / 2002-03: Nordic writing school, Biskops Arnö, Bålsta, Sweden

1989-90 / 91-92: Art school Idun Lovén, Stockholm, Sweden


Additional education

2007: Going Public - About public art and design, Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden

2004-06:  Literary studies, Södertörn University, Sweden


Selected solo exhibitions

2020 (2019-20) The artist's Mecca, S P G, susanne pettersson gallery, Stockholm, Sweden. An art installation about the artist's situation in society, based on an observation of crisis and exclusion

2019 Labyrinth - Mother in me, CYAN Studio / Gallery, Oslo, Norway. A photo-based art installation with readings from poetry of Tolis', collage and drawings about the mother's last days in life, and similarities, confusion of the self

2017 My family is my family is my family, S.P.G, susanne pettersson gallery, Stockholm, Sweden. An art installation about family ties and family constellations

2014 The remnants of the home as memory streams, S P G, susanne pettersson gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, an art installation about the father's Greek heritage and strains of the self in relation to distance

2011 But why dost thou shriek so loud? S P G, susanne pettersson gallery, Stockholm, Sweden. An art installation on Greek mythology and Greek heritage

2010 Anatomie de ma mère / My mothers anatomy, Candyland, Sweden. An art installation about the mother, and further in the idea of the Mother as an archetype based on Julia Kristeva's theory of the Mother's body (and the Father's law)

2002 Together, Galleri Kretsen, Södertälje, Sweden. An art installation in textile materials with large murals such as the Rorschach test of nightmares and being the hostage in yourself

2000 Texts in space, Forsbacka bruk, Gävle, Sweden, An art installation with a central video film about creative torment, and large drawings on the wall about Sylvia Plath and her work as a writer, with the poem: The Nauseating Grossesse

1999 A room with a view, Atlasmuren, Stockholm, Sweden, an art installation with photographs from the grandmother's home, as well as the sound installation Smallest little water bag, the grandmother's senile dementia monologue. Later included in Britt Edwall's program about sound poets: Smallest little water bag (link to a Radio Sweden)


Selected group exhibitions

2019 I look at myself, de-Hydrated, CYAN Studio / Gallery, Oslo, Norway, and .the Norwegian Institute at Athens, Greece

2014 Search! Fujisawa, Japan. An art installation with objects and watercolor paintings about the self in the world

2012 Conversations in the control room, a watercolor painting in the rest of the surroundings of works of art. Sweden's general art association (SAK) art exhibition, Sven Harry's Art Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

2007 Lion's nest, Beckomberga, Stockholm, Sweden. Artwork produced as a proposal for public decoration of the Beckomberga area, focused on the area's history with the mental hospital located there

2006 AREAS: Memorial sites, Röda Sten Konsthall, Göteborg, Sweden. Artworks about the grandmother's interiors and exteriors of her house

2006 The rejoicing animal's wandering cheek, poetry reading of a collective poem at Tribunalen Theater, by Lyrikvännen Magazine and the literary group SKAM, Stockholm, Sweden

2005 AREAS: Memorial sites, Skulpturens hus, Stockholm, Sweden. Artworks about the grandmother's interiors and exteriors of her house

2004 Warm heart, Rättviks konsthall, Rättvik, Sweden. Artworks made of the grandmother's belts and beautiful ribbons and silk straps that enclose the torso, presented in different huge wall shapes

2001 Video installation, Enkehuset Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden

2001 Language is a virus from outer space, a poetry reading of former poems made by Tolis among the works of art, Norrköpings konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden


Selected Publications

2021 Balder Magazine, Mother and I - She just keeps living (text, fotographs)
2020 Konstnären (The Artist) Magazine, I always wished, I never had (text, fotographs)
2019 Balder Magazine, Mother, take care during the journey (text, fotographs)
2018 Pralin Magazine, Their (short story)
2018 Balder Magazine, She is everything (text, photos)
2018 Balder Magazine, Moments inside moments (poem, watercolor painting)
2017 Balder Magazine, The heavy alphabet of the waves (poem, watercolor painting)
2016 Balder Magazine, My questions are like ingenious roses (text, photographs)
2015 Dagens Industri Magazine, With daughters, I had probably become a terrorist (Tolis' photo Gynekokrati in the interview with Ebba Witt-Brattström)
2015 Balder Magazine, This day's poem (poem, watercolor painting)
2015 Balder Magazine, Balder, the editor and the future. Interview with Mats Ahlberg
2015 Balder Magazine, Greece (poem, watercolor painting)
2014 Glänta Magazine , Aegean sea or anus of death, a translation of a greek poem
2014 Balder Magazine, Mr Karube, and I find that I have a destiny (text, photographs)
2014 Balder Magazine, The paradox's possible rapprochement - Conversation with Theodor Kallifatides (text, photographs)
2013 Balder Magazine, I who would be filled with love - In memory of the poet Ola Julén (text)
2013 Balder Magazine, The prison of beauty (text, photographs)
2012 Balder Magazine, Actually he only needed a pen, his life was to write (text, photograph)
2012 Balder Magazine, We are breathing in the world of animals (text, photograph)
2011 Balder Magazine, Views of a lawnmower, considerations (text, photograph)
2008 OEI Magazine, Sewing processes (poems)
2006 Lyrikvännen Magazine, Edith, I'm impatient, The roads to home, the home movement is in the body (poems)
2006 Trots allt Magazine, Let me talk about melancholy (poems)
2006 D-thesis in Literature: Everything that comes between me and writing, I'm killing
2005 Lyrikvännen Magazine, Collective poem: The rejoicing animal's wandering cheek
2005 D-thesis in Literature
2000 Bang Magazine (photographs)
1999 Presens Art magazine , Konstfack answering Anna Brodow, debate article by Sofia Tolis on art
1992 Ordfront Magazine, Four empty chairs, The basement and Tomorrow dinner (short prose texts)
1990 Anthology, editor: Niklas Darke

Selected Reviews

2019 (27/12 2019) Dagens Nyheter, Birgitta Rubin: "Här flyger stekta sparvar in i konstnärsmunnen" (Here, fried sparrows fly into the artist's mouth)
2014 Dagens Nyheter, Birgitta Rubin , "Hemmet i våra minnen och drömmar" (Home in our memories and dreams)
2014 Konsten.net, Anders Olofsson: "Sofia Tolis och Therese Szatek på SP Gallery" (Sofia Tolis and Therese Szatek at SP Gallery, ie S.P.G, susanne pettersson gallery)
2006 Göteborgsposten , review on art exhibition "AREAS: Memorial sites" 
2005 Dagens Nyheter, Milou Allerholm, "Innergårdar i ytterstad" (Courtyards in the suburbs)
2004 Dala-demokraten , Bo Degerman: "Varmt om hjärtat, en högst personlig fråga i Rättvik" (Warm heart, a highly personal issue in Rättvik)
2002 Länstidningen Södertälje , Maria Albel: "Sofia Tolis insekter" (Sofia Tolis' insects) 
2000 Norrköpings tidningar, Eva Lindblad: "Dikter bland konstverken (Poems among the works of art)
2000 Gefle Dagblad, Stina Andersson: "Texter i rummet - om skapande i allmänhet och Sylvia Plath i synnerhet" (Texts in the room - about creation in general and Sylvia Plath in particular)
2000 Arbetarbladet, review on Sofia Tolis' solo exhibition "Texts in space"


Additional products

2017 A sound installation with documentary material of Tolis' conversation with her father about his writing, sampling and adding artificial sounds to it: "Faderskorus" (Father's Chorus), 50 minutes
2012 Lecture/ talk: "Mina ord är så dyrbara" (Precious are my words), Mare Kandre-evening, ABF-huset Sveavägen, Palme-salen / The Olof Palme Hall
2011 Became a member of the cultural magazine Balder's editorial board
2007 Participating with documentary material about MJM Propaganda for the movie: "Hitmusik, Konsten att sätta rytm till revolt" (Hit music, The art of putting rhythm to revolt), Råfilm
2004  Creating, filming, cutting a music video: "Vetande" (Knowledge) for Svenska Akademien / to the music group The Swedish Academy
2004 Editor of a Short Film Festival at Södra Teatern, Kägelbanan, Stockholm
2002 Participation with the Sofia Tolis music video: Coconut woman at 1394 Video festival at Zita, Stockholm
2002 Creation of a Back Drop-Video to the music group MJM Propaganda's music show (40 min)
2001 Creating, filming, cutting the music video: "Coconut woman" to the music group Moder Jords Massiva Propaganda (MJM Propaganda)
1999 / 2005 Participating with the Sofia Tolis sound installation "Smallest little water bag" in a program about sound poets: "Smallest little water bag" by Britt Edwall Radio Sweden , Program 1


Selected scholarships

2022 Studio Art Scholarship, Stockholm City
2020 The Artists' Committee under the Ministry of Culture, 2-years Working scholarship
2018 Studio Art Scholarship, Stockholm City
2016 The Artists' Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Project scholarship
2015 Studio Art Scholarship, Stockholm City Art Scholarship
2012 Tigerstedt's Art Scholarship, Vathis cultural house on the island of Samos, Grecce
2011 Studio Art Scholarship, Stockholm City
2010 The Artists' Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Working scholarship
2010 Helge Ax:son Johnsson's art foundation, Greece, To dig where I stand
2003 Helge Ax:son Johnsson's art foundation, USA: On duty, To walk in my mothers footsteps
2003 Hälsingland cultural administration's scholarship
1999 Helge Ax:son Johnsson's art foundation, Grekland-Greece, To walk in my fathers footsteps
1999 Rättvik Municipality's scholarship


Represented

Sweden's general art association (SAK)
The Pharmacist's Art Association
Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden
Architect company
Nordea bank Art Association
Private collections

Avilable art works at S P G, susanne pettersson gallery, Gävlegatan 10b, Stockholm, Sweden
More about the artist Sofia Tolis: Konstkalendern