[INTERVIEW] 'Everyday Hero' exhibition shows imperfect, human sides of superhero

Andreas Englund poses for a photo in front of his works displayed at Lotte Gallery in northeastern Seoul. Courtesy of IADG

By Anna J. Park

Swedish artist Andreas Englund, 44, visited Seoul recently to attend his first exhibition ever held in Korea. The exhibition titled "Everyday Hero," currently underway at Lotte Gallery in Lotte Department Cheongnyangni Store located in northeastern Seoul, displays about 30 pieces from his "superhero" series.

His works show very private and unexpected sides of a superhero's life by shooting the spotlight on the yet-unexposed daily life of the hero. The "hero" wears his stereotypical blue superhero suit, but none of the works show banal images of all-capable heroes.

The "Everyday Hero" exhibition shows a superhero's own weaknesses, fears and ordinary daily routines. This piece is titled "SHOPPING." Courtesy of Andreas Englund

Instead, with a warm-hearted perspective, Englund's paintings depict the hero's own fears, sloppy mistakes, awkwardness and weaknesses. The invincible hero seems to undergo an excruciating dental treatment, or he wakes up with a terrible hangover, or spends a very ordinary Sunday picking mushrooms in the woods.

Viewers can also see how the life of this "superhero" pans out very ordinarily, just like everyone else, from a full-cheeked toddler to a mischievous young man to a fatigued aged man in his late years.

"SMOKING" by Andreas Englund / Courtesy of the artist

During an exclusive interview with The Korea Times at his exhibition site in Seoul last week, Englund said he wanted to add human traits as a way of posing a challenge to the stereotypically perfect image attached to superheroes. By doing that, he'd like to deliver a message to viewers that while they can become whoever they want to be, we must not forget that we all are imperfect humans.

"I think we all strive to be a better self, and superheroes represent the better self. Seeing him having flaws, just like everyone else, makes you realize that it is not that easy. I think it's important to show viewers don't try to pursue perfection, but try to pursue your personality and who you are, because that's what people love about you," the Stockholm-based artist said.

"We don't want to be judged on preconceptions based on our gender, age or physical appearance. Instead we want to be recognized on our own personal traits, accomplishments and abilities. With my art, I want to show both sides."

Swedish artist Andreas Englund speaks about his work in front of special guests at the Lotte Gallery last Wednesday. Courtesy of IADG

He got the idea for his superhero project when he was inspired by a Greek sculpture in the early 2000s. Back then, Englund was a successful art director in advertising. For an ad, he transformed the Greek sculpture into a fatter appearance, by adding a potbelly. While he found it interesting to transform perfect ancient archetypes into more human figures, he stumbled onto the idea that the Greek heroes are the ancient version of today's superheroes.

"Greek sculptures have a perfect body, representing a perfect person. It's boring, then it kind of struck me, 'wait, superheroes are the modern versions of these Greek heroes ― they were called the heroes' ― then suddenly, I got plenty of ideas; it was not a sculpture anymore, it was a person in a situation," Englund said.

"The idea was born to tell the story of an everyday hero who was far from perfect, struggling with everyday trivialities. To transform a perfect hero into someone who is human felt very interesting, especially in today's society where perfection and success is a constant stress on our shoulders. I wanted to explore this further and find a symbolic character where stress and expectations are constantly present."

"THRILLER by Andreas Englund / Courtesy of the artist

Since then, the former award-winning creative art director started painting about 10 years ago. His "Superhero" series was his first project as a painting artist, yet with his innate talent in drawing and his conceptual ideas that communicate well with the public, his works received rave reviews globally and online.

"I already had a great job, which was good for my art project, because I didn't need to make success immediately," the Swedish artist said. "But for the last five years, I've been a full artist. I quit my job, because eventually I felt I need to do this full-time."

For his "superhero" works, he uses his own family members as well as himself as a model. The aged superhero is modeled after his father, while younger versions are a portrait of himself. A recent work was modeled after her daughter, breaking gender-biased stereotypes and sending an empowering message.

"If you paint someone you know like yourself, your father and your daughter, your respect for that person is reflected, adding extra layers to the works. And of course, a lot of these efforts are humor, not taking yourself too seriously. I wanna put myself in that situation by making fun of myself; it's sort of like a self-portrait," Englund said.

The "Everyday Hero" exhibition runs through July 28 at Lotte Gallery in northeastern Seoul. Courtesy of IADG, Andreas Englund

He stressed that by depicting familiar faces of ordinary people like his own family as models, he hopes viewers can relate to his paintings, while challenging their own limitations and stereotypes.

"This superhero is for anyone who would like to connect with, as the superhero mask gives you the opportunity to make your own story about this character. It's is like a symbol, through which most people can relate themselves to, because everybody nowadays knows what a superhero is like," he explained.

"YAWN" by Andreas Englund / Courtesy of the artist

So far, Englund has created over 30 works on the "superhero" series. He has also been commissioned to create diverse art pieces such as mural paintings in countries around the world, including Germany, Norway and the U.S.

The exhibition continues until July 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lotte Gallery in Lotte Department Cheongnyangni Store.