Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Art & Culture Special – Denmark
Left: Cameron Rudd, Still Waters. His paintings of swimming and leisure in Berlin’s lakes are intricate and eye-opening. He paints in a way that creates colourful, digitallooking still lifes that draw people in. Right: Christian Lemmerz, Adam. An international sculptor of quite a different calibre in contemporary art. This philosophic and intensely in-depth thinking artist hovers around death especially and what is ahead.
Art for generations In 1982, Franz Pedersen started Galleri Franz Pedersen to display and sell the art of some of Denmark’s most reputable artists. Today, the gallery is run by Kasper Pedersen, Franz’s son, who has continued his dad’s work as well as adding new contemporary artists from across Europe to the repertoire. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Galleri Franz Pedersen
“Growing up, I often had established artists come through our front door to speak to my dad, so it was an environment where art was really important and meaningful. That’s really where my passion for art started,” explains Kasper Pedersen.
time on the road and at exhibitions finding new artists or a particular expression. “My top priority is always finding something that’s original,” he says. “My clients have often spent a long time considering what they want, so I always keep them in
the back of my mind to see if I can find something that’s perfect for them.”
A close contact Much of what Pedersen does is actually based outside of his gallery. “When people get in touch, it’s often because they have something in mind. They’re looking for a particular style, want something that fits with their own passion for art or something to start or continue their collection,” explains Pedersen. “It’s also about inspiring them. We show them the
Original art The gallery, located in Horsens, is today home to an exclusive range of artists spread across five rooms. The art ranges from the dark and sombre to the bright and colourful. “The art in the gallery is primarily in the form of paintings and sculptures. I look for pieces that are figurative in their expression as well as showing a true craft and strong originality,” says Pedersen. Finding this kind of art takes time and patience. Pedersen spends much of his 44 | Issue 104 | September 2017
Michael Kvium, Madwalk. His outstanding paintings conjure up a cruelty theatre with representatives of mankind showing us ‘the truth incarnate’. Michael Kvium scans the limits for how far you can act concerning brutality and grotesqueries nowadays.