Surealistic Sunday - Odd Nerdrum

Well, I'm taking liberties with the title of my feature. Odd Nurdrum is not at all categorized as a surrealist but I find that some his work has a surrealistic (dream-like) atmosphere to it; a bit like Bosch. Cited Nerdrum influences are diverse:  de Vinci, Rembrandt, Dali and Munch, among others. At first glance, Nerdrum could be a baroque painter. But when one looks closely, there are modern motifs in his work as well. He is, in fact,  a self-described kitsch artist.

 born 1944

Norwegian-born, Swedish figurative painter

If your foremost goal is originality, then you are no longer making kitsch.
Kitsch seeks intensity, not originality.
The goal is to approach the best of the old masters as closely as possible,
especially the Greek hellenism (300 b.C - 100 A.D.)
and the Baroque Renaissance (1500-1670).
taken from: Kitch Dogmas

 

Self-Portrait

Twins by the Sea

Twins by the Sea 
detail

 Dawn

Kitsch is the opposite of the public space, of the public conversation, of the demand for objectivity and functionality. Kitsch is the intimate space, our selves, our love and our congeniality, our yearnings and our hopes, and our tears, joys and passion. Kitsch comes from the creative person’s private space, and speaks to other private spaces. Kitsch deals therefore with giving intimacy dignity - 

Odd Nerdrum, ArtNews, April 2000.

 

 Bath

 Bath 
Detail

 In Limbo

 

Twins

Early Morning

Woman with Doorknob






I found all of this weirdly fascinating...