The Shape of Things to Come: Jim Vikstrom

"The hard way is the only way..." ~ J.V.

THURSDAY (wax, in its pre-bronze stage; 2007)

WEDNESDAY (clay; 2008)
"Wednesday" and "Thursday" are two out of Jim's Days of the Week sculpture series. "Monday & The Boss" (2006) is a man who beat the Monday blues by strangling himself.

TORSO (wax, life-size perched in a Swedish mansion; 2005)

TORSO (bronze, life-size; 2005)

MAN IN BRONZE (2006)

"Over 700kg has so far been used to cast my sculptures...using my little brother to carry home the parts to Skelleftea to get started with ciseleringen of bronze."

DREAMING (clay, 3/4 life-size; 2004)

MORNING (clay, life-size; 2005)

"I can just see her wandering in the morning mist in high uncut grass..."

LONGING (clay, life-size; 2005)

"Longing is a really nice piece.  You can go all around her and the composition will hold, and the eye will always circle back to the figure and never away from it.  It's a strong sculpture."

What inspires and motivates you to sculpt the human form?

"My friends, my surroundings and my emotions.  I really do like the challenge of sculpture.  It's not that hard to make a portrait; the challenge is to bring it to life, give it charisma.  That's hard."

Fave science-fiction and horror film?

"The Thing" and "Alien."  I was a young boy when I saw them...from then on I was a monster fan.  The only thing I wanted then was to become an fx guy, a monster creator.  HR Giger still kicks ass."

Your fave scariest monster?

"Alien monster, cool design.  Leatherface, I mean...a mask of human skin..."

Your boyhood dream was to work in Los Angeles as a special effects guy.  Who is the first person you'd want to meet upon arriving in Hollywood?

"JDLP, because she's a really cool lady.  We could hang out, drink a few beers, and I would experience a good old American BBQ (it's on my wish list).  Talk about the good old times."

Most fulfilling aspect about being a mentor of Ecorche?

"It is to see them finish an ecorche, with all the hard work they put in and the difficulties of completing one.  It makes me so happy."

I met Jim (pronounced the Swedish way, "yim") when I took a stint at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. My dear friend has always been there for me and though the sojourn in Firenze was not long enough, we share some unforgettable memories:  Homemade sushi c/o Junko (served with Laphroaig), Friday night beer + martinis at The William, Jim continually boosting my confidence after it had been crushed by David's schnoz, Jim telling Pinot The Stalker that he will kick his ass if he calls me again for the 85th time (that night!) and last but not least, our late night run to the beer vending machine (...giving "back-packing" a whole new meaning).

The man holds no bounds when it comes to challenging himself through his sculptures and anatomy work, "I'm a craftsman.  A sculptor.  I want to create my own world!"  Currently, he runs the only active Ecorche program in Europe at the Lulea University in Skelleftea, Northern Sweden.   Jim Vikstrom's raw talent, unrelenting dedication and devotion to his work is...hands down...Absolutely mind-blowing.

Jim Vikstrom