ASI Presents “Salad Hilowle: Inscriptions”

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—This summer, the American Swedish Institute museum and cultural center will host Salad Hilowle: Inscriptions, a thought-provoking exhibition examining themes of belonging, spectatorship, and the evolving visibility of the African experience in Sweden. On view from June 21-October 26, 2025, this will be Hilowle’s first major solo exhibition and retrospective outside of Sweden and is curated by Berlin-based curator Sagal Farah.

Hilowle was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and moved to northern Sweden at the age of seven. A graduate of the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, he is currently based in Stockholm but finds the north to be the source of much of his inspiration. Hilowle is a storyteller who utilizes many mediums to explore complex narratives in a way that people can relate to.

Featuring video, photography, sculpture, textiles, and performance, Inscriptions reflects Hilowle’s cinematic approach, seamlessly weaving personal narratives with broader migrant experiences. Through shifts in context, scale, color, and material, his work challenges perceptions and encourages viewers to see the familiar in new ways.

By integrating artifacts, journal entries, public records, and archival materials, Hilowle reclaims and reimagines figures and events often marginalized in Swedish art history. His work fictionalizes plausible narratives, sometimes incorporating himself alongside other protagonists—either as himself, embodying the significance of an Afro-Swedish artist, or as a vessel for stories of those no longer present. His focus is not correcting historical omissions but highlighting the agency and presence of overlooked figures.

“Rather than focusing on repair, Hilowle shifts the perspective to the importance of centering complex narratives that reflect the diversity of the Afro-Swedish experience. He builds upon it by subtly referencing the works of renowned Swedish artists Karin Larsson and Anders Zorn, as well as members of the black artistic canon such as Carrie Mae Weems and Roy de Carava, ultimately giving homage to participants of our humanity who have multiple (be-)longings.” — Sagal Farah, curator

The exhibition will open with a special First Look event on June 20, featuring a festive Swedish Midsommar-style dinner with guests of honor Salad Hilowle and Sagal Farah. Throughout the summer, ASI will present a series of programs designed to foster deeper connections between art, storytelling, and cultural traditions.

A highlight of the season will be a collaborative celebration with the Somali Museum of Minnesota on August 3, featuring live music, dance, craft demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and food representing both Somali and Swedish Minnesotan communities.

Salad Hilowle: Inscriptions Digital Press Kit.