THE MAJOR EXHIBITION TO DISCOVER AT THE ARKEN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
The Arken Museum in Denmark, located about 20 kilometers from Copenhagen, is overflowing with praise for this major solo exhibition dedicated to the work of artist Anish Kapoor, the first of its kind in Scandinavia. On view until October 20, 2024.
Anish Kapoor was born in 1954 in Bombay, India. Now based in the United Kingdom, the artist is known for working in a wide variety of disciplines, from sculpture and architecture to painting and drawing. This diversity is also reflected in the materials he uses, such as pigments, wax, granite, marble, limestone, and polished stainless steel. His work has been exhibited in numerous prestigious venues, including the Palace of Versailles and the Royal Academy of Arts in London. He is also responsible for iconic sculptural works, such as Cloud Gate, erected in Chicago in 2006, a rounded, mirrored structure whose surface reflects the sky and surrounding skyscrapers.
A remarkable career is honored by this exhibition at the Arken Museum, which pays tribute to the unique world of Kapoor. On display? A selection of the artist's most significant monumental works, conceived and created over his forty-year career. This is also a major first for the Danish museum, and for good reason: "Unseen" presents the work of the celebrated British-Indian artist in a large-scale exhibition for the very first time in Scandinavia. Among the most singular pieces in this selection are undoubtedly Memory (2008), a massive form reminiscent of an airship, made from 24 tons of steel, and Descent into Limbo (1992), which caused a stir in 2018 when it was exhibited at the Serralves Museum in Porto, Portugal: a visitor fell into this 2,5-meter-deep hole, painted black to simulate a bottomless cavity.
Demanding works of art, which required radical decisions to be made during their installation in the Danish museum. Director Marie Nipper explains: We are incredibly proud that Anish Kapoor has chosen to collaborate closely with ARKEN to present some of his most impressive—and technically demanding—works here at the museum. In some areas, we had to reconstruct ARKEN to accommodate the largest pieces. The public is in for a real treat: they will never have seen this exhibition anywhere else in the world, especially since the museum no longer has its usual appearance. Anish Kapoor creates artworks that resonate with you on a physical and emotional level, becoming one with your body. We hope to create an art experience that the public will never forget. »
Among the other unforgettable works of this artist, also known for holding the patent for "Vantablack," the world's blackest pigment, is Destierro, a work composed of some 100 tons of earth tinted with red pigment, in the middle of which stands a Klein blue backhoe. Finally, one should not miss Descension, a strange and menacing vortex of water disappearing into a bottomless pit. A discovery that may not be without its challenges. Indeed, the safety instructions posted on the site end with the words " The experience is at your own risk ».
“ANISH KAPOOR – UNSEEN” ARKEN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
SKOVVEJ 100, ISHØJ (DENMARK)
UNTIL OCTOBER 20, 2024
ARKEN.DK
