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Visiting retrospective shows can often be a disappointment due to the tendency to ‘pad-out’ the artist’s life with mediocre or unrepresentative examples of earlier works.
I’m glad to say that this show doesn’t suffer from this.
The show starts with work from the late 1960’s – inspired by a pop art reminiscent of Sigmar Polke, & working with household paints & collage on masonite. From these early works Kirkeby declares his interest in European artists with the titles Moreau & Segantini. One feels as if there is a lot of unresolved questions here- which are taken to task in the following rooms.
During the late 70’s to early 80’s the mood and style changes, mentally the artist moves from the cheerful pop imagery to a sombre abstraction linked to his ‘decision to enter dialogue with the grand tradition of European painting’.
The new work leaves behind the cartoon world of pop & enters the dark world of the Nordic psyche. Through the chaos of abstract brushstrokes one has the feeling of being encased in a dense dark primeval forest providing a close encounter & direct correlation with nature.
This emersion in the spirituality of nature is emphasized by the bronze statues, mainly abstract yet evoking primitive arches, caverns or buildings (which bear a resemblance to communist style architecture). The overpowering emotion is that of confronting a pagan altarpiece, uncovered in the undergrowth of an ancient forest.
The highlight of the show again brings into play Kirkeby’s interest in the history of European painting (he has written many books on artists that have inspired him), in his painting entitled ‘The Siege of Constantinople’. The dirty doom-laden greys of the earlier work are gone, replaced by an intense, vibrant range of deep reds & blues. The density is still there but the viewer is pleased to be so close to nature with the oppression gone one can see the tracery of the natural world surrounding us creating a direct link between man & environment.
My first experience of the Kirkeby’s work was in a show from the time when this painting was produced – I am still enchanted by its magic.
Per Kirkeby is at Tate Modern 17 June – 6 September 2009