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HOLBERGSGADE 19, COPENHAGEN
June 24 - AUGUST 02, 2025
NILS STÆRK is pleased to present this year’s Summer Show – a curated summer hanging featuring works by Nils Erik Gjerdevik, Michael Kvium, and Matthew Ronay.
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NILS ERIK GJERDEVIK
The artistic practise of the Danish/Norwegian artist Nils Erik Gjerdevik (1962 - 2016) consisted of painting and ceramic sculptures, as well as individual works on paper. Gjerdevik is known for his non-figurative paintings that challenge the set rules and conventions of painting as a genre. He always confronted our idea of how a painting should be presented through his use of peculiar formats, alternative colours and composition rarely built around the classical notion of harmony. His paintings tend toward a more double-edged expression where seemingly divergent ideas and movement meet and become one and the same image. This practice applies to his drawings and his ceramic sculpture work as well.
Gjerdevik exhibited at art institutions including: Hospicio Cabañas, Instituto Cultural Cabañas – ICC, Guadalajara, Mexico; Kunstmuseum Brandts, Denmark; Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, USA; National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen. His works are found in public museum collections, including: PAMM – Pérez Art Museum Miami, USA; National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen; Bergen Kunstmuseum, Norway; Malmö Konstmuseum, Sweden; the National Museum, Norway, and Kiel Kunstverein, Germany. Gjerdevik executed numerous public commissions and he was honoured with awards and distinctions for his exceptional contribution to the national and international art scene.
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MICHAEL KVIUM
Michael Kvium (b. 1955, Denmark) portrays the follies of humankind. For almost half a century, his artistic exploration of the suppressed aspects of humanity, has led him across a wide array of artistic mediums. Creating images resonant with theatrical qualities, rooted in his early engagement with performance art in the 80s. Kvium’s paintings are like scenes of a play engaging in grandiose or gloomy emotions, while posing critical questions about morality, idiocies, and the rise and fall of Western civilization. The works are an invitation to the viewer, to engage in reflective introspection, to share the stage and ponder.
In 2017 Kvium presented his largest exhibition to date, Circus Europa, a giant total installation first presented at ARKEN (DK) and later traveled to Kunsthal Rotterdam. The show fused painting, sculpture, film and installation in a kaleidoscopic vision exploring the state of the world. Kvium’s work has also been the center of various solo exhibitions including SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen; ARoS – Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus; Kunsten – Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg; Horsens Art Museum, Horsens; The Today Art Museum, Beijing; Shenzhen Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen; and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
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MATTHEW RONAY
Matthew Ronay’s (b. 1976, USA) sculptures invite viewers into a mythological realm where abstract forms meet metaphysical energies. His creative process, rooted in automatic drawing, allows subconscious impulses to shape intricate sculptures that appear to grow autonomously. Inspired by the natural world, Ronay incorporates biomorphic shapes to explore themes of reproduction and decay. Using basswood, he crafts each piece unassisted, finishing them with rhythmic textures and vibrant colors that evoke a tactile, sensory connection.At the core of Ronay’s practice is his ability to merge disparate elements into harmonious compositions that feel both familiar and otherworldly. By emphasizing the spaces between his sculptures’ components, he fosters a dynamic balance of tension and unity, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between humanity and nature. This immersive experience not only draws attention to the works’ physicality but also unveils deeper layers of psychological and emotional resonance.
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For general inquiries, please contact: inquire@nilsstaerk.dk
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