ON THE TRACK

Gallery Stalke has invited guests who might tell us about the future

STALKE, Vesterbrogade 15.
Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Last day: February 25.

For about two years now, Stalke, the gallery, has been focusing on a small, close-knit circle of artists in its "stable." The policy has been to prioritize a few and make a name for themselves across the entire Danish art scene.

In the best international style, they have actively worked for these select artists, not only by hosting exhibitions in the gallery but also by engaging in projects both in Denmark and abroad.

Naturally, new initiatives are needed. This is well understood at Stalke, which has recently showcased international conceptual artists like Kosuth and Lawrence Weiner.

A DIRECTION

In the current exhibition, the gallery has let its regular artists (Mogens Møller, Dorte Dahlin, Torben Ebbesen, Margrete Sørensen, Thorbjørn Lausten, Osmund Hansen, and Thomas Bang) each invite a guest.

One might guess that the time is ripe to expand the circle, and in that sense, this exhibition can be seen as a direction or indication.

A promising contribution comes from Marianne Hesselbjerg, who participates with three small sculptures—albeit of slightly varying quality. The most exciting piece is a small organic construction where an intensely blue and very matte sphere rests in a wreath of budding, cool metal leaves. Contrasts are both united and broken.

This is also evident in Ole Broager's installation, built as a solemn architectural monument in utterly unpretentious chipboard.

Per Bak Jensen balances in his photographs on a fine line between a sober motif and a form where sharpness, perspective, and color precision are pushed to an almost romantic intensity.

NO GUARANTEE

It can be problematic to bring together six artists when the criterion for their participation rests solely on an invitation from one of the regular exhibitors. This provides no guarantee that the exhibition can work as a whole. Therefore, it’s surprising that three of the artists have actually chosen the same theme—the wall or the barrier—which they have then addressed in very different ways.

While Cai Ulrich von Platen’s plaster relief appears anonymous next to the towering form of the black wall in Jesper Christiansen’s oil painting—traces of humanity and traces of time—Finn Reinbothe focuses on materials and work processes. His wall signals an interrupted processing as a tribute to the unfinished and sketch-like.

The exhibition does not reveal who invited whom. One is undeniably curious, and it might have been a good idea to indicate where the invitations came from.

Charlotte Sabroe

13.2.1989

Per Bak Jensen

STALKE GALLERI - ENGLERUPVEJ 62 - 4060 - KIRKE SAABY - DENMARK - PHONE: +45 2926 - 7433

CONTACT:  STALKE@STALKE.DK

OPEN BY APPOINTMENT