Selected artists for the portfolio residency program PortRe 2022

Matilda Enegren and Oliver Reuter are the two artists selected for PortRe 2022 - A portfolio residency program for emerging visual artists

PortRe is the Finnish Cultural Institute in Denmark´s 1-week long residency program in Copenhagen with focus on the artist’s portfolio. It is operated in collaboration with The Stina Krook Foundation (FIN) and was launched in 2019. The purpose of PortRe is to create an opportunity for emerging Finnish, or Finland-based, visual artists to come to Copenhagen and present their portfolios to a number of established actors on the Danish cultural field. For example, for gallerists, art critics, curators, collectors or other art professionals and commence on a constructive conversation around the artist´s portfolio. The portfolio is an important and necessary tool for visual artists, yet artists rarely have the possibility to discuss them with the people evaluating them. The aim with the program is to provide this possibility for emerging artists, in an early stage of their career, as a unique opportunity for development and rewarding dialogue between artists and art professionals.  

PortRe is a residency program by invitation only and welcomes 2 artists a year for a duration of 1 week each. The artists are selected by The Stina Krook Foundation´s board from candidates suggested by the foundation´s art experts: Kai Kartio and Helen Korpak. 

This year’s selected artists are Matilda Enegren and Oliver Reuter. Their residency periods will take place during 2022-2023. 

Matilda Enegren is a Helsinki based artist and she earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Valand Academy at the University of Gothenburg in 2015 and she also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Novia University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Her works are characterised by a psychological acuteness, often with a lingering ominous feeling. Enegren frequently depicts people who are close to her and narration is a strong feature in her practice. She is a technically talented artist who creates works with an unmistakable atmosphere.

Oliver Reuter is currently completing his Master of Fine Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki and previously studied at the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences. Reuter possesses a strong and clear artistic vision where the wings of history can be felt through well known series and animations. While much of his works show a deep knowledge of pop culture, the works are highly contemporary and acutely his own. Reuter’s works are characterised by a joyous creativity, an exciting pulse and strong lines and colours.

The Stina Krook Foundation

The Stina Krook Foundation. The purpose of the Stina Krook Foundation is to support and promote visual arts and performing arts with a special consideration of the Swedish-speaking population in Finland. Stina Nicolaisen, nee Krook, established the foundation in December 1976. The first awards were presented on Stinas’ birthday on 15 March 1978. As of 2019, the foundation has distributed more than 500 awards to a total amount of 2 million euro. The surprise and joy has been great among the receivers, as the foundation does not accept applications. Instead, the board make its decisions based on suggestions by experts in the field of visual arts and performing arts.