Especially in a protestantic country, which I happen to live in; people attend church, they seek after sentimental church concerts so that they can sing; open their heart. To Jesus? No, under the cover for singing loud, ”Deilig er jorden” and even fell a tear.
I write this without irony.
There are small chances for these kitsch-seeking souls to open up their hearts in other seasons. The symbols are so appealing both in colour and shape. Putting together red and green is the most complimentary contrast according to Goethe’s colour theory. It flirts with your eye and grabs your attention. Yes, I use it myself (even outside the Christmas season)
The story about the young woman giving birth to her son amongst some animals and candlelight made my chin wet last Christmas. Sitting in the cross-shaped
Oslo Domkirke, eight months pregnant listening to this story accompanied with a boys choir with 50 sopranos just filled up the kitsch-glass. The popular story is always present. Its always kitsch.

The country I live in, winterwonderland, enters its esthetical peak moment when the long shaped land is covered with white powder as if it’s the highway to the North Pole.
When the first snow is falling from the sky, it’s magical. The soft shapes that appear when covering the nature within an hour is just like putting a layer over a painting to soften it.

Angels are falling from the sky…don’t ask any questions just enchant yourself with the unrationel idea. A beautiful kitsch motif- Where to place the angel is more problematic today than for Caravaggio in 1602 his ”The Inspiration of Saint Matthew”

No one asks questions when bringing a tree into the living room. It must of course have decoration on. Big, golden bulbs, sweets- ready to eat directly from the branches, handmade miniatures of horses and saints. –Everything that excite your senses.

When wrapping up Christmas you get Kitsch.

*The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, 1602
Oil on canvas, 292 x 186 cm
Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.

Don`t miss the opportunity to visit the Hammar Herrgård which has just opened up for the public. We are looking forward to meet you this Sunday afternoon over a glass,- the last chance to see the exhibition.

Numero uno:
In 2007-2009 Parkas Productions made a documentary about my work based on the painting series “The Nine Muses”. Here you can see the short version of it…

When you enter KHM we humans go through the little door in the corner of the large door (where I suppose the giants enter?). It makes you feel that something important is waiting for you inside.

Titian, my favourite painter, is represented not only one, but twenty times on the velvet red wall carpet. The ceiling in the Titian room reaches at least eight meters and the floor creaks, especially under the painting called; Nymph and Shepherd, c.1570/75. Canvas, H 149,6 cm, W 187 cm. A sign that not only me, but also thousands of admirers has stopped right here. Nymph and Shepherd is one of Titians late paintings which means it’s roughly painted and it’s not commissioned. It may be from the mythological theme, but this is less important since the sensation of the paintings derives from the use of colours (or rather the lack of colour) and the way the lines are floating between the shapes. The shadow and the light are exaggerated so that there is not only close to nature, but also beyond nature. Talking from a painters view, this teqnique is something one achieves after decenniums, when you have painted for years the correct, nature-alike paintings. When you have learned how to swing your brush elegantly you can do as Titian; using his fingers when the brush has done its work and putting up to 20 layers of transparent paint.

Standing on the other side of the room you can see the composition is limping. This is because the canvas format once where larger, so that the figures had more space around them. Despite this the painting is pointing out with its coolness and sensibility. Comparison is something Odd Nerdrum has taught me and it’s obvious that the Nymph and Shepherd is the winner. Finding it hard to secede with Titian I have to leave the KHM going to a wedding, but to comfort I find myself in the room just beside; in the Café with Apfelstrudel and Café mélange.

Helene Knoop will participate in the Chic Art Fair 2011 in Paris.

October 21 – 24, 2011

At the Chic Art Fair Knoop will be represented by Galerie l’oeil du prince.

Helene Knoop Solo Exhibition at Hammar Residence in Säffle, Sweden

September 3 – October 3, 2011

OPENING  Saturday, September 3  at 10.00

This is a sales exhibition of paintings and lithographs.

In connection with ”Skordefest på Värmlandsnäs” the Gallery will be open Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd and 4th, from 10:00 to 16:00. Thereafter, the Gallery will be open on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 to 16.00, and other days by appointment.

Welcome!

Press coverage:

Helene Knoop imponerade på Hammer, in Säffle-Tidningen

Konst i världsklass under Skördefesten – Helene Knoop till Hammar Gård (2011-08-30)

FINNISSAGE

Sunday, October 2 at 14.00-1600

Please join us for a special talk:  In Pursuit of the Masterpiece.  Helene Knoop and art historian Therese Sjøvoll, will discuss Knoop’s pursuit of the masterpiece.

What is a masterpiece and how do you acheive it?

This talk is based on their new book Helene Knoop – Paintings. There will be ample time for questions. Signed copies of the book will also be available for purchase.

Join us!

HAMMAR RESIDENCE

For more information about Hammar Residence and sales please contact gallerist Karen Hurley-Langseth at hurley.langseth@gmail.com  or +46 (0) 764 085 607 (Karen Hurley-Langseth). Or visit the Hammar Residence webpage.

Hammar Herrgård, 661 93 Säffle, Sweden

The Murder of Nerdrum

The Murder of Andreas Baader in a new version: The Norwegian government paints the Murder of Odd Nerdrum.

Equality before the law does not mean that all people are the same. Go backwards into the future with your face enlightened by the past, Nerdrum says. His values are old fashioned. He chooses to own a bar of gold rather than ten credit cards in his pocket. Without thought of profit he receives students from all over the world. Their curious gazes encourage him to paint his masterpieces. In prison this will end.

Nerdrum chooses to paint new pictures rather than to trust insurance companies. Why has not the judge considered that Nerdrum compensated the owners by replacing scores of paintings that were destroyed, and that he put aside funds to cover future compensation claims?

The average Norwegian will find the verdict just, as he can never himself become a Nerdrum. The tax legislation is perfectly adjusted to his work as an employee.

When you punish a painter without prior convictions, whose plea has not been heard in court, you commit political murder. By isolating him in prison without a brush and a palette you kill the man whose only wish–without any intention to deceive the state– is to fulfill his life’s work.

Helene Knoop, painter and former Nerdrum student
Gerald Maximilian Bliem, Galleri PAN

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Artikkel på trykk i Aftenposten.21.08.11.

Mordet på Nerdrum

Mordet på Andreas Baader i ny versjon; Den Norske Stat maler Mordet på Odd Nerdrum.

Likhet for loven betyr ikke at alle er like. Gå baklengs inn i fremtiden med ansiktet opplyst av fortiden-sier Nerdrum. Hans verdiholdninger er gammeldags. Han velger å eie en gullbarre fremfor 10 kredittkort i lommen. Uten tanke på profitt tar han imot elever fra hele verden. Deres nysgjerrige blikk stimulerer ham til å male sine mesterverk. I et fengsel vil dette ta slutt.

Nerdrum velger å male ødelagte bilder på nytt fremfor å stole på forsikringsselskaper. Hvorfor har ikke dommeren tatt hensyn til at Nerdrum erstattet et titalls ødelagte malerier og satte til side egne trygdepenger?

En alminnelig nordmann synes nok dommen er rettferdig fordi han selv aldri kan bli en Nerdrum. Skattereglene er jo perfekt tilpasset hans jobb som ansatt. Et politisk drap begås når man straffer en maler uten tidligere straffedommer og som ikke blir hørt i retten. Ved å isolere ham i fengsel uten pensel og palett tar man livet av han som kun ønsker å gjennomføre sitt livsverk uten intensjoner om å lure staten.

Helene Knoop, malerinne og tidligere Nerdrum-elev
Gerald Maximilian Bliem, Galleri PAN

Welcome to my new website and blog!

In this blog I would like to share my work and my thoughts. I will also update you on coming exhibits, events and media coverage.

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My next exhibition is at Hammar Residence in Säffle, Sweden.  It opens on September 3 and runs until October 2,  2011. The last day the art historian Therese Sjøvoll and I will give a talk about my work. You can read more about the exhibition and see a selection of the paintings that will be on view in the NEWS section of this website.

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October 21-24, 2011 I will participate in the Chic Art Fair in Paris. I will be represented by  Galerie L`Oeil du Prince.

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In the media there is a debate regarding my former teacher, Odd Nerdrum; his conviction for tax evasion and the jail sentence.  I compare it to his famous painting “The Murder of Andreas Baader” – this conviction is the murder of Nerdrum.  You can read the article (in Norwegian) HERE.

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