You see we are blind at Fineart Gallery in Oslo is the largest collection of Odd Nerdrum’s work that has ever been on display, showcasing sixty paintings from the past twenty years.
Since the 1980s, Nerdrum has consistently depicted man in his primal state, confronted by the necessities of life and its inescapable challenges. The paintings in this exhibition emphasize human figures in movement, roughly painted as if caught in a stage of transformation.
Watch Jan-Ove Tuv’s guided tour at the exhibition:
Tuv is known for putting emphasis on technique and storytelling when he analyzes paintings. He often points to a method he calls the “shock effect” which he says is typical for Odd Nerdrum. “It pushes or pulls figures in a certain direction,” he explains.
Taking inspiration from “Hope” by George Frederic Watts, Nerdrum is using a heliocentric perspective where centralized figures are seen from beneath, and the earth as if from outer space — a sense of life repeated in some of his most iconic images.
Besides barren landscapes and forests, a third scenery of a darker kind has been introduced in the last decade and a half. The series of void pictures is a continuation of experimental motifs Nerdrum made in the 1960s, initially inspired by fever dreams in his childhood. Here, the human figure is the supreme center of attention and the general order of society has ceased to exist. In some of his recent paintings, the transitory stage of the underworld becomes apparent. Clothless… hairless; the figures are stripped of everything, as if they were living ghosts.
Since the mid-2000s, Nerdrum has been using the Apelles palette, consisting of white, yellow, red, and black. The cool tones in these works, which appear blue, are merely gradations of gray, underlining the earthly tone and sense of unity.
More and more coarsely painted and softer in the transitions, as if in a dream, his subjects are living, translucent beings.
For Nerdrum, a “correct” depiction has never been sufficient. His primary goal has been storytelling, and now more than ever, he connects the figures through a pulsating rhythm of eternity.
The stories we are witnessing recreate moments where life is at stake. Moments of utter seriousness and devotion. Moments we all secretly long for, because they tell us who we are.
Seeing Nerdru’s work, one is reminded of Joseph Campbell´s words of how The Hero brings eternity into the present. He who lives according to timeless stories will remain forever young, because his ideas come from the primal source of human life.
Guided tours at the exhibition
Jan-Ove Tuv will have guided tours at the exhibition:
Sunday 27th March at 1 and 3 pm (13:00 og 15:00)
Saturday 2nd April at 2 and 4 pm (14:00 og 16:00)
Sunday 3rd April at 1 and 3 pm (13:00 og 15:00)
It is for free and anyone can join.
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Latest news
Kitsch Meets Art: Nerdrum & Melgaard Exhibition in Oslo
Two worlds collide when the exhibition Nerdrum & Melgaard opens 6 pm Thursday 7th November at Fineart Oslo. The show will include limited edition prints by two of Norway’s most influential and controversial figures in the kitsch and art world respectively. Odd Nerdrum and Bjarne Melgaard represent diametrically different but powerful visions: the former with his classical figuration, focusing on timeless imagery and vulnerability, and the latter with his contemporary, expressive style, tapping into sexuality, identity and the grimness of life. On display will be recent as well as venerable prints that have stood the test of time, original drawings, sculptures and a unique collaborative self-portrait. This double portrait reveals the opposing forms of expression — giving the public an opportunity to closely compare the two. Odd Nerdrum and Bjarne Melgaard agreed last year to do a collaboration. Here together with the gallery owner Rolf Stavnem. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) will be present and cover the opening, which will include opening remarks from the real-estate investor Christian Ringnes and the editor-in-chief of Subjekt, Danby Choi.
Rembrandt’s Melancholy and Classical Values
Do you want to know how the mind of the greatest classical painter of our time works?Do you wonder what “classical values” actually are?And why melancholy is actually that important to us? Odd Nerdrum and his former student Jan-Ove Tuv sit down for a conversation in the building which is the Nerdrum Museum in the making: The old Pipe House at Agnes Square outside of Stavern.With a philosophical approach to painting, the discussion will move beyond the strokes and attempt to explain the meaning of painting. Join a one hour conversation about: • The importance of Rembrandt’s melancholy• Why storytelling is so important to us• Why “modern” values are destructive for classical painters and the audience. The event will take place September 14th at 17:00 – 18:00. Tickets are now available.
A Nerdrum Museum in the Making — Invitation to a Press Conference
Odd Nerdrum, Norway’s most prominent painter from the last century, lacks a permanent exhibition space for his works. His wife, Turid Spildo, and his son, Öde S. Nerdrum, intend to do something about this. Together, they plan to convert an old industrial building on Agnes, north of the city of Stavern, into a gallery with a collection of his finest paintings. An invitation from Sea Park Stavern in 2021 catalysed the idea. “The Sea Park” housing developers were looking for someone who could bring a cultural citadel to the area. For a long time, Turid and Öde have been looking for someone to take the initiative to establish a museum, but they finally decided to take on the job themselves. From Odd Nerdrum’s exhibition “You See We Are Blind” at Fine Art Gallery in Oslo in 2022. Photo: Bork S. Nerdrum – My father’s legacy is unique, not only as a painter but as a teacher as well. I definitely feel a responsibility to preserve and convey what has inspired a generation of painters to return to nature, says Öde. Turid and Öde do not have experience in museum management. However, they believe that the love and respect they have for his paintings is a more decisive factor to their success. – The most important consideration is to be aware of what constitutes a good museum experience. I believe the two of us to be amongst the most seasoned museum-goers.Turid agrees and points to how important the overall atmosphere and environment contributes to the paintings. – A museum must have a café! “Pipehuset” at Agnes outside of Stavern. Photo: Sea Park Stavern Invitation to the press conference Tron Inge Nilsen, who is the managing director of Sea Park Stavern, has been in close dialogue with Turid and Öde in recent months. They recently landed an agreement for the takeover of the old industrial building. Tron is excited that something special is finally happening in the resort town. – We are very proud that Nerdrum has chosen the Sea Park as the location for this museum establishment. This will be an exciting attraction of national importance that will give new life to the remains of the old venerable brick buildings of the Agnes match factory. Key handover with Cecilie Sanden, Turid Spildo og Öde S. Nerdrum. Photo: Sea Park Stavern Turid Spildo and Öde Nerdrum are arranging a press conference that will take place on Thursday 30. March at 1 pm at Pipehuset (Agnes torg 18) to present the project in the premises where it will be built. Everyone is welcome and invited to the press conference.
