Skånes konstförening is happy to announce that Simon Ferner is this year’s recipient of the Sven and Ellida Hjort’s Exhibition Grant! Beyond a stipend of SEK 20 000, the award includes an exhibition at Skånes konstförening opening in February 2025.

The jury’s motivation
In his artistic work, Simon Ferner, explores how art can respond to some of the most urgent questions of our time. Through an impactful visuality, thorough research and great humility, Ferner’s practice, which also encompasses the widespread Instagram account Arkiv S, makes visible what is often overlooked by a wider public. With a strong commitment to local social histories, Ferner navigates memory, grief and denial within a poetic as well as pedagogical approach. The works encourage us to engage in the discussion and to take action. We look forward to seeing Ferner’s practice further enriching the art scene with his exhibition at Skånes konstförening.

About the artist
Simon Ferner’s artistic practice revolves around forgotten and hidden parts of our common history. Through research in archives, libraries and museum collections, he connects and maps unexplored stories together with site-specific investigations. His work asks questions about how these places carry their history and what traces remain today. Ferner studied at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. He has exhibited at Vallentuna kulturhus, Lunds konsthall and Ställbergs Gruva, as well as in Malmö with the project Antirasistisk Monument. Since 2020, he has been running Arkiv S, a collection of stories of racist violence in Sweden, with a focus on the 1990s.

About the stipend
The Sven and Ellida Hjorts Exhibition Grant is awarded annually to an emerging artist from Skåne. The awarded artist is chosen by a jury appointed by the board of Skånes konstförening. The 2024 jury consisted of Sofia Persson (Plattform KC Syd), Roxana Kaboli (Form/Design Center), and Ina Nian (artist).