For CHART 2022, OSL contemporary is delighted to present a selection of new naturalistic paintings of seedlings, soil, mushrooms, birds and dead birds from an ongoing series of watercolours by Thorbjørn Sørensen. The works can be described as beautiful and romantic but are at the same time a very matter of fact study of the ordinary.
Sørensen's latest series of watercolours puts the viewer in a special frame of mind. The first impression we gain is recognition of something we already seem to know: a bird, some weeds, a lump of earth, a plant we know we have seen but have not considered important enough to look up its name. Rather than quenching our interest, the anonymity and generic character of the subject seems, on the contrary, to compel us to immerse ourselves more deeply in the visual layers of the work. Why was this picture created, why does it occupy my mind so intensely? We start following the lines of the meticulously drawn and painted pictures. Our gaze becomes more and more focussed as we take in all the minute details. In this process, we seem to even forget what the picture was about; a strange kind of transformation takes place, turning the picture into abstract visual language. Lines, colours, forms; all the twists and turns slowly take the main role in this quiet but suddenly intensive visual drama.
Thorbjørn Sørensen (b. 1961) lives and works in Oslo and is educated at the National Craft and Art School (1982– 1986) and the Academy of Fine Art, Oslo (1987-1991). Sørensen works in the tension between naturalistic watercolors and figurative works over to fully abstract paintings. From Sørensen’s studies to the present day, the search for painterly possibilities has been an ongoing motivation. Motives are often inspired by day-to-day life and overlooked daily scenes in nature and objects around us. The works are distinctly relaxed and playful but do at the same time contain strong subtle references to the history of painting. For CHART 2022, Sørensen is presenting a selection of new naturalistic paintings of seedlings, soil, mushrooms, birds and dead birds from an ongoing series of watercolors. The works can be described as beautiful and romantic but are at the same time a very matter of fact study of the ordinary.
Other events:
As part of CHART Art Fair, Thorbjørn Sørensen will be in conversation with the longstanding director of Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, and newly appointed director at the Munch Museum, Tone Hansen. The talk will focus on Sørensen’s practice and will have as a starting point their shared recreational interest in tennis. Hosted by CHART, Friday 26 August 17.00. For more info see the fair’s program online.
The participation is kindly supported by OCA, Office for Contemporary Art Norway.