Kristian Von Hornsleth
Kristian von Hornsleth (b. 1963) has had a long and significant affiliation with Stalke Galleri. Early in his career, he worked for a period as an assistant at the gallery and presented his first major works here. Later, he was featured through Stalke Out of Space – including at Liste/Basel – and has also produced several works and editions in collaboration with the Artstamp project.
Hornsleth is today recognized as one of Denmark’s most controversial yet persistently relevant conceptual artists. His practice unfolds in the intersection of branding, ethics, politics, and identity, often using the mechanisms of art as a mirror for contemporary power structures.
Among his most discussed projects is the Hornsleth Village Project (2006), in which residents of a Ugandan village received livestock in exchange for adopting the name “Hornsleth” – a work that challenged both artistic and humanitarian boundaries. In later projects such as Hornsleth Homeless Tracker, he continued this confrontational approach, merging social themes, technology, and participation into reflections on control, identity, and human dignity.
Despite his reputation for provocation, Hornsleth’s work also reveals a conscious aesthetic and philosophical dimension. Beneath his staged universe lies a persistent investigation into authenticity, empathy, and responsibility in a time dominated by media and market logic.
See also the exhibition “Rape Kill Steal Burn”, 2001
Installation views from Kristian von Hornsleth’s exhibition Rape Kill Steal Burn(2001) at Stalke Galleri. The show included paintings, photos, and sculptures addressing desire, identity, and the contradictions of modern life.
Liste Basel/ArtFair, 1999