Per Kirkeby
Per Kirkeby (Denmark, 1938–2018) was a celebrated painter, sculptor, and poet known for his richly textured abstract works. With a background in geology, his art often reflected natural forms and landscapes. A prominent figure in Scandinavian contemporary art, Kirkeby's oeuvre bridged the organic and the conceptual, earning international acclaim.
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The role of art is to accept that things break down. That is the only way to get something new to emerge.
- Per Kirkeby
- Per Kirkeby
Heavily influenced by his background as a trained geologist and the natural environment around him, Per Kirkeby has created through the mediums of painting, sculpture and installation – with works highly entrenched in the concept of structure, Kirkeby has stated “Structure mirrors your degree of responsibility toward your work...You can't just let it float around in pretty colors. It needs a kind of core.” Such works as The Siege of Constantinople and Soft Lapping of Waves, Green are among his most notable paintings – gestural and heavily-painted, the influence of Abstract Expressionism is succinctly detectable. As a sculptor, Kirkeby worked predominantly with brick – Nordhorn is one of his most notable sculptures and provides a physical experience for the viewer; walking throughout each of the chambers and into the core of the structure opens up the realms of light and shadow, and the delicate interplay between the two.
What is Gestural?
Gestural art is a term that describes painting with freely sweeping brushstrokes. The primary goal of gestural art is to allow the artist to physically express emotional impulses. The varied, yet expressive paint marks are intended to convey the artist's inner thoughts and emotions, which viewers are believed to understand through the dynamic and spontaneous…
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