Elin Engelsen (DK)
Born 1966
Elin Engelsen was born and raised in Norway, but nowadays she lives in Denmark. Her memories of the Norwegian nature often play a role in her works. In relation to nature, the artist says: “In my eyes, the nature is not something out of picture postcards, but it should be taken seriously. In a blink of an eye, its forces can tear down all our strongholds.”
Elin Engelsen’s style is simple and clean, and her works often contain empty areas, so that viewers can project themselves and their imagination into the magical world which unfolds on the canvas. The colors mirror natures’ luminous sky, azure oceans, dark forest lakes and green meadows.
Engelsen’s works capture a completely unique Nordic light, clearly bearing a mark of her childhood in the fairytale-like, but also scary, magnificent Norwegian nature.
Read more about the artist
In her soloexhibition “Affect” at GalleriV58, 2020, Elin Engelsen still engages in nature; its powers and color schemes. The exhibition title symbolizes the affect, which our surroundings emit; “an intense, short term, positive reaction in body and mind.” (Engelsen). The nature in Engelsen’s works represents the releasing moments when we surrender to our emotions. The paintings often portray children or young people in spectacular nature scenes, and this solo exhibition is no exception: In lakes, by mountain ranges and ramson-covered forest floors they move unconcerned through the landscapes, which are both enthralling and awe-inspiring. Some of the artists’ works also depict nature in its pure form, undisturbed by humans, – in this solo exhibition through among other things paintings of golden, brown leaves, which floats on a lake surface – dreamy nature shapshots.
According to Elin Engelsen the theme of the “Affect”- exhibition has to do with getting carried away. Engelsen has brought Tanja Eijgendaal with her as guest exhibitioner. She represents an entirely different art style, but nevertheless the works figure in a fascinating interaction with Engelsens’. The two artists’ paintings are inspired by each other’s and thus they become visual symbols for a symbiosis between two styles.
Interview about my art: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kreastorm/id1568459727?uo=4
Show CV
EDUCATION
2003-04
Aarhus Art Academy with teacher Hanne Munc, Denmark
1985-87
Graphic design, Reklameburo Resultat, Bergen, Norway
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022
"Visions", solo exhibition, Galleri V58, Aarhus, DK
"Summershow 2022", Galleri V58, Aarhus, DK
2021
"Wintershow 2021-2022", Galleri V58, Aarhus, DK
"Summershow 2021", Galleri V58, Aarhus, DK
2020
Wintershow, GALLERI V58, DK
Special Exhibition: "Affekt", Galleri V58, Aarhus, DK (Guest artist: Tanja Eijgendaal)
2019
Art Herning, Herning, represented by GALLERI V58, Aarhus, DK
2018
NORTH art fair, Aalborg, represented by GALLERI V58, Aarhus, DK
GALLERI V58, special exhibition with Vivian Høi Nielsen, Aarhus, DK. Invite
GALLERI V58, group exhibition, Aarhus, DK
2017
GALLERI V58, solo exhibition ‘BEAST’, Aarhus, DK
GALLERI V58 pop up, Skagen, DK
NORTH art fair, Aalborg, represented by GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2016
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, Bella Center Copenhagen, represented by GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
ZENIT, solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2015
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, Forum Copenhagen, represented by GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Solitaire, solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Samling & Samtid (Collection & Contemporary), temporary exhibition, Skagens Museum, Denmark
2014
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2013
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
ABSENTIA, solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Hjemland (Homeland), solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Grand Opening exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2012
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
STØV (Dust), solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2011
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Compelling Realism From 5 viewpoints, temporary exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2010
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
ecco, solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
2009
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Livsbilleder – Kvindesyn (Life in pictures – A Woman’s View), Dronninglund Kunstcenter, Denmark
Livsbilleder – Kvindesyn (Life in pictures – A Woman’s View), Kvindemuseet, Aarhus, Denmark
2008
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Ni fra nu (Nine from now), Aarhus Kunstbygning, Denmark
Eventyrlandet (The Fairytale Land), solo exhibition, GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
Silkeborg Kunstnerhus, Denmark
2007
GALLERI V58, Aarhus, Denmark
7 figurative malere (7 figurative painters), Kulturspinderiet, Silkeborg, Denmark
Silkeborg Kunstnerhus, Denmark
2006
City Vest Art Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
Silkeborg Kunstnerhus, Denmark
2001
Kunstmesse, Bergen, Norway
Galleri Bryggen, Bergen, Norway
CENSORED EXHIBITIONS
2010
Kunstnernes Summer exhibition, Tistrup, Denmark
2007
Silkeborg exhibitionen, Silkeborg, Denmark
Kunstnernes Summer exhibition, Tistrup, Denmark
2006
Limfjorden Easter exhibition, Kunstforeningen Limfjorden, Gimsinghoved, Denmark
2005
Limfjordens Autumn exhibition, Kunstforeningen Limfjorden, Gimsinghoved, Denmark
BIBLIOGRAPHY
101 kunstnere v/ Tom Jørgensen (2009) (yearbook)
Ny Dansk Kunst (2007) (yearbook)
VIDEOS
Video portrait of Engelsen: “ELIN ENGELSEN Skagens Museum Exhibition Collection & Contemporary”: https://vimeo.com/131651657
MEMBERSHIPS
Kunstnersammenslutningen Prokk (2012)
Silkeborg Kunstnerhus (2006-2008)[/vc_column_text][/tab][/tabbed_section][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Accent-Color” title=”Read more”][vc_column_text]Merete Sanderhoff, Project Researcher at the National Gallery of Art, has said about the artist:
“Elin Engelsen perceives painting as a space where existential metaphysics – in other words, that which makes us, humans, the marvellous creatures that we are – is given a concrete form. The key word of Elin’s work is openness. Her paintings are driven by a firm belief in the imagination’s redeeming qualities, implying mental freedom and openness to life. Regarding the formal side of her work, she leaves a lot of open space in her paintings, allowing the viewers’ imagination to freely roam and fill in the blanks. Recently, her favourite motifs were children and youngsters, who in her depictions seem to be above everyday earthly limitations, such as time or gravity, and who float freely, engulfed in their own mental reality, through their dreamy, gauzy world.”