The secrets they keep by Lena Willryd
Bamboo culm cut in half, acrylic yarn, Rya technique, H300 x W 20 x D18 cm

A hard exterior may hide, but also protect, the softest most guarded part of our self.
Always look for the beauty that resides within…

Creative Collective has launched their new project “Ephemeral” at Hunting Brook Gardens in Blessington, Co Wicklow, in collaboration with horticultural expert Jimi Blake. All the artworks were made site-specific for this amazing garden. The exhibition will run for the months of June, July and August 2024.

The Secrets They Keep is now on permanent display at Hunting Brook Gardens.

A group exhibition including almost 100 small works by 85 artists. The show opened on Thursday 30th of November, 2023 and continued until 22nd December, 2023 at LHQ Gallery, County Cork Library, Carrigrohane Road, Cork.

n 1905 Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater published their book “Thought Forms” in which they affirm that our thoughts influence our life experience, and that these thoughts can also affect other people. They further mentioned that thoughts have shapes and colours. Their “thought form #8” is a pink cloud-like shape with the attribute “selfless affection”, like between mother and child. In ancient philosophies pink is also considered to have healing qualities relating to the heart chakra (love and emotions), which is one of seven energy centres in the body.

Flower essences can stimulate our ability to heal on all levels of our being simultaneously. They can subtly address imbalances on an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual level. The essence of Linnea, also called Twin Flower, promotes compassion and love for oneself and others. It is a small flower with pink petals which is the regional flower of Småland, my home county in Sweden. Linnea was also my mother’s middle name.

Linnea is a homage to my mother “Elsa Ingrid Linnea” which brings together her “selfless affection” (unconditional love) towards me, her daughter, and my own emotional healing process after her passing. It consists of a malleable “rya” piece in the shape of Besant’s thought form #8 which is folded into a Linnea petal.

Sculpture in Context 2023
The empty chair of beautiful memories (2023)
Acrylic yarn, rug backing, found object

In my current work I’m using a Scandinavian hand-sewn knotting technique called ‘rya’, taught to me by my mother when I was a child. After her passing I was drawn to include it in my practice. 
The empty chair speaks of loss and absence, but also of happy memories. The colours and shapes are inspired by the Linnéa flower. It’s the regional flower of the province in Sweden where I grew up, and also part of my mother’s name –  Elsa Ingrid Linnéa.