In this duo exhibition, the two artists Storm Philippa Clarén (based in Stockholm) and Pablo Penalba (based in Barcelona) come together in a deep exploration of the role the concept of sin plays in modern society. Through their distinct perspectives, they touch upon both historical and contemporary understandings of sin’s impact on the human being—both in practical and spiritual terms.

Sin, which has historically been a central and tangible concept within both religious and moral frameworks, has in our contemporary, secularized world partly lost its original meaning. Yet the traces of the seven deadly sins remain—not only in societal norms but also in our personal thoughts and feelings about various phenomena. Is there a hidden, inherited burden of guilt that we carry without being fully aware of it?

With their unique takes on the inner demons of humanity, the artists examine what the concept of sin does to our self-image and how it shapes our relationship with the world around us.

In this duo exhibition, the works move between the concrete and the abstract, where thoughts of morality, guilt, and personal trials mix with a raw, almost humorous gaze at the human condition. Clarén and Penalba invite us into a world where the boundaries between fairytale and reality blur—where sin is not a verdict, but a companion on our journey.

In Clarén’s art, one can sense the scent of the misty meadows of Moominvalley and hear the echo from the Sea of Galilee—a world where fairytale and existential reflection flow together. Her work carries a dreamlike quality, where landscapes become mirrors of inner currents of longing, guilt, and reconciliation.

Penalba’s paintings, on the other hand, move in another sphere—the streets and faces of raw reality, where the human condition is laid bare in its most unfiltered form. His figurative painting, influenced by modern expressionism and a sense of lived experience, evokes the cracks of life and the fragility found in our most private moments.

Together, they create a narrative where the soft and the rough coexist—where myth and reality meet at the water’s edge.

Through Clarén and Penalba’s works, the universal role of sin is illuminated—from the dogmas of the old church to our own, often unnoticed, inner demons. With a tone that is both playful and earnest, the artworks move beyond the expected and place us in a world where gods and mortals dance together by the shore. They remind us that sin, like the stories surrounding it, has always been a part of us—not just a moral consideration, but a mirror of our own lives, our dreams, and our downfalls.