Galleri Tom Christoffersen

exhibitions

Dan Hays: Colorado Snow Effect 7. 2009, oil on canvas, 107x142 cm

There is a formal association between the works of Dan Hays, Marie Søndergaard Lolk and Allan Otte – the grids, roads and tracks of paint. The works do not cross over as such but share unusual working processes leading to unfamiliar destinations. PARALLEL LINES at Galleri Tom Christoffersen presents new paintings by the three artists.

Challenging his dogmatic use of vertical and horizontal brushstrokes Allan Otte has sent the canvas into rotation. Using a sculpturer’s wheel as tool while keeping the paintbrush still, the centre of the painting is marked. The spiraling movement towards the edge accentuates the flat surface, the expanse of the painting, and creates a capturing vertigo. Although deviating from his large-scale and horizontal works, Allan Otte is still elaborating on the genre of landscape painting, as he merges it with contemporary still-life. In these new close-ups the landscape is almost displaced; yet the surroundings are still reflected.

The continuous but unpredictable experiments with surface, space and illusion by Marie Søndergaard Lolk have led to paintings of great variety. In the new works the emphasis is on: landscape, language, matter and compositions of positive and negative space - an emphasis, which is materialized through more or less structural actions during the painting process. In most works text functions as a structuring element rather than providing a linguistic meaning. Other works present unforeseeable multiple viewpoints whereby the space of the viewer is activated.

With three new works Dan Hays continues to explore formal connections between low quality, compressed digital photographs and Impressionist painting. Images are sourced from ski and traffic web-cameras in Colorado, the aim being to contrast the immaterial, pixellated digital matrix with the material and imperfect nature of oil paint. The Colorado Snow Effect series perceptually plays with the Pointillist use of additive colour, rendering greyscale snow scenes with painted pixels of pure saturated colour. Increasingly, more noisy and corrupted imagery has come into frame, questioning the persistence of illusory space and the veiled presence of the canvas surface or computer screen.

PARALLEL LINES presents three artists working along their own distinct tracks - making experiments in painting. They are more or less concerned with precision, structural actions, flatness / illusory space, and perceptions of physicality, scale and distance. They have in common an intellectual approach to contemporary painting, investigating both its supposed limits and expressive possibilities.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Dan Hays (1966) holds a BA Fine Art, Goldsmith’s College, London (UK, 1987-90) and is currently working on a Ph.D under the “Centre for Useless Splendour”, Kingston University (UK, 2008-2011). Other academic involvements are the publication of articles and the project “FADE – Fine Art Digital Environment”, University of the Arts, London (UK, 2008-09). The artist lives and works in London. Previous exhibitions count e.g.: “Failing Light” (solo), Zürcher Studio, New York (US, 2009). “Close to the Surface: Digital Presence”, ICA, London (UK, 2008). “Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks”, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning – Contemporary Art Space, Cph, (DK, 2008). Dan Hays is represented in the following British collections (e.g.): Tate Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, Saatchi. Dan Hays is prizewinner of the “20th John Moores Prize for Contemporary Painting”, Liverpool (1997).
For more information about the artist please consult: danhays.org

Marie Søndergaard Lolk (1981) graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2008 and was granted the scholarship “Exit Extra 08”. The artist lives and works in Copenhagen (DK). This year works by Marie Søndergaard Lolk were selected for the “Carnegie Art Award 2010” and she was given the Carnegie Art Award scholarship to a young artist. In 2010 Marie Søndergaard Lolk participates in “Mermaid Mind” a satellite project of the Danish pavilion, Expo Shanghai 2010, China. Previous exhibitions in Denmark are e.g.: “Til Vægs”, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Cph (2009). “Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks”, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning– Contemporary Art Space (2008), “Beneath the Surface”, Nils Stærk Contemporary Art (2008) and “Maleri Uden Grænser”, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum (2007). Marie Søndergaard Lolk is represented at Malmö Konstmuseum (S, 2008).
For more information about the artist please click here

Allan Otte (1978) graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2007, the artist lives and works in Copenhagen (DK). In April 2010 Allan Otte opens a solo exhibition at Gl. Holtegaard (DK) and later the same year he participates in “Mermaid Mind” a satellite project of the Danish pavilion, Expo Shanghai 2010, China. Previous exhibitions are e.g.: “Nye Afveje” (solo), Politikens Forhal, Cph (DK, 2009), “Carnegie Art Award 2008” shown at selected European art institutions (2008/09). “Silent pictures” (solo) Galleri Tom Christoffersen, Cph. (DK, 2008). “Landscape painting” (solo), Skive Kunstmuseum (DK, 2008). “Enter” Kunsthallen Brandts, Odense (DK, 2008). ”Everything is Good Here”, Galleri Tom Christoffersen and Himmerlands Kunstmuseum, Museumscenter Aars (DK, 2006). Allan Otte is represented in the collections of ARKEN Museum of Modern Art and Skive Kunstmuseum.
For more information about the artist please click here