Eva Koch, Jenny Marie Johnsen and Berit Førland

Mezzaninen/stalke

Vesterbrogade 15A, Copenhagen

to 18.2.1989

Review

IT IS RIGHT NOW

A kind of sample of three young Danish artists in the Mezzanine

MEZZANINE. Vestergade 15 A, Copenhagen. Daily 11-18 except Sunday and Monday. Until February 18.

The time does not call for grand emotions. At least, this is how it is experienced in the field of visual arts. Passion, raw nerves, and violent expression appear somewhat out of place, while the new art demonstrates a preference for the crafted, the refined, and the subtle. Focus is placed on materials—various types of plastics rather than natural materials are preferred—but they are rarely used in raw, unpolished, and unworked form. Surfaces are glossy—or matte and mystical. The presentation of the works is crucial; they must be "professionally" presented.

It is important to maintain that quality assessment cannot be based on comparisons with previous generations' art. The premises for artistic expression have changed as the surrounding society has undergone radical transformations. It is necessary to view the new art with an open mind—not necessarily to understand it, but to draw conclusions and form an opinion.

SOMETHING NEW

In Copenhagen and a few other cities in Denmark, there are currently good opportunities to get a sense of the latest art.
In fact, there have never been so many places where young artists—including those still in training—can exhibit their work. Many of these new initiatives have the purpose of inviting young artists to showcase their works for guests or customers, and they have been established as alternative galleries where their own generation can have a say.

But commercial galleries are also focusing strongly on young artists. For instance, Jesper Asbæk’s small Gallery Pilou acts as a "trial station," an unfinished opportunity to assess works before they are eventually integrated into the regular "stables."

Stalke is one of the new, more ambitious galleries, and it is spreading out in multiple locations. First, a branch was opened in Admiral Street—with a focus on installation art. Then came Sub-St in Nørregade, Stalke Project, whose headquarters have now been established in beautiful, newly decorated premises in a backyard on Vestergade. Here, they have set up the Mezzanine in a basement room (although it is normally associated with a more elegant space on the first floor). But now there is time for new talents.

Some of these young artists include Berit Førlund, Jenny-Marie Johnsen, and Eva Koch, who together exhibit new works in the period until February 18.

WORTH SEEING

The current exhibition at Mezzanine is not extensive—there are only four pieces: a sculpture with forms of aluminum and polyester by Eva Koch, a box-like red structure hanging on the wall with many different small fields by Jenny-Marie Johnsen, and two paintings by Berit Førlund, where various fabric-like textures and synthetic materials are combined into different form and structural compositions. The exhibition does not provide a real insight into these artists' works—it is more of a "sample package" that is presented here.

But it is worth seeing, both as an offer of what could potentially become significant in the future and as a reflection of some of the tendencies and directions in new art right now.

ANNELI FUCHS