LARS STRANDH

exhibition view, Konstruktiv Tendens 2003. photo Åke Sandström.

...........

photo Merette Solberg Odland.

About my work.

Curiosity is probably the main force for me to make my next painting. How will one experience the painting if it is the same size but a bluish black instead of red? What if the painted field is slightly larger or smaller or wider - or a different size canvas, but the same size of the painted field? What if I put two canvases together - or three?
The only way to experience the differences is to make a new painting with those changed qualities. So I do.

In these paintings I use a thin brush for the last four to eight layers of translucent paint. It results in an uneven layer of paint (strokes), reflecting the small difference of colour-shades and light, and hence, gives life to the matte painted parts. The traces of the brush strokes emphasize the identity of the paintings as painted paintings.

There is a meditative aspect when I paint them. It takes time, and I try to focus on every stroke - over and over again. Is there a rhythm I agree with? Is it interesting enough - if not - why not?

Finding the right colour can be a long process. The reasons for choosing a specific colour are, for me, more a subconscious matter. There is a certain quality in the colour-shade I look for, but I can't explain what that quality is or for what reason.
How to find that specific colour is another story. I must admit that over time I have amassed boxes filled with strange, "useless" colours in my studio, as a result of trying to find a colour I feel is interesting enough to work with.

I believe there are two ways (at least) of viewing my paintings. The first one is purely formal - stretcher, canvas and paint - how it is made. But I really like the possibilities in the atmospheric quality in the painted fields. As the Norwegian freelance curator Per Gunnar Tverbakk writes about my work: "It is possible to lose oneself in the spacious areas suggestive of water and air. The illusion is within reach for anyone willing to see it. As viewer, you can shift perspectives, recall and revoke the mirage. You can turn the "perception switch" back and forth, depending on what you wish to see. Neither perspective takes priority over the other. The two ways of viewing the paintings are equally weighted, producing an ambiguity the artist does not want to clear up. The artist paints his works with a "double brush", thereby declaring a pragmatism that releases him from the tenets of any manifesto. It is a language of having it both ways, which identifies him with current artistic realities."

I also know it takes time for a viewer to really see and take part in my paintings. Doug Ferarri, director of SICA, and curator for the exhibition "Paint it black", writes about my works: "I have found that the more I "live" with Lars work, the more their translucency and luminosity take hold of my interaction with these works and the less apparent their formal approach becomes".

These are paintings of experience. Reproduction, photography or slides can never capture or replicate them. It is only through presence, together with the paintings, that you can take part in them.

Lars Strandh, 2005

Lars Strandh. photo Bjorn Sterri

Born 1961 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Living in Norway since 1984.

ART-EDUCATION
1996-1997 Master-Student at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo
1992-1996 The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo
(Spring 1995 Ecole Superieur d´Art, Bourges, France)
1990-1992 DNM-Artschool, Oslo

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
Galleri LNM, Oslo 2009
Galleri Semmingsen, Oslo, Norway 2008
Haugesund Billedgalleri, Haugesund, Norway 2008
Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2007, 2003
Galleri Åkern, Kongsberg, Norway
(With design from Ron Arad, Verner Panton, Alvar Aalto) 2007
Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo 2006
Studiogalerie Kaditzsch, Höfgen, Germany 2004
Galleri Henrik Gerner, Moss 2004,
Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo 2004, 2002
Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen 2004, 2001
Galleri Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2003
Østfold Artist Center, Fredrikstad 2003
Gothenburg Art-association, Gothenburg, Sweden 2003
Galleri Aasen, Ålesund 2002
Trøndelag Center for Contemporary Art; Trondheim 2002
Tromsø Art-association, Tromsø 2001
Harstad Art-association, Harstad 2001
Northern Norway Artists Center, Svolvær 2001
The Hot Rod Tea Room, Oslo 2000
Lørenskog Art-association, (Gallery Skårer) 1999
Gallery Ask, Åsgårdstrand 1999
Steinkjær Art Association, Steinkjær 1998
The Artist Center in Buskerud, Drammen 1998
Telemark Artist Center, Porsgrunn 1997
Galleri Heer, Oslo 1997
Z-Galleri, Oslo 1996

GROUP-EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
Museum Forum Konkrete Kunst, Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany 2007
Ateljén Nordkoster, Nordkoster, Sweden 2007
Galleri Semmingsen, Oslo, Norway 2007, 2006, 2005
Galleri Oijens, Gothenburg, Sweden 2007
Geometric Abstraction XXV”, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2006
Galerie von Waldenburg Tauscher, Waldenburg, Germany 2006
Geometric Abstraction XXIV”, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2005
Vevring-exhibition, Vevring, Norway 2005
"Paint it Black", The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA (Curator Doug Ferrari) 2005
ARTEFACT Gallery Pardo, Zürich, Schweiz 2005
“Geometric Abstraction XXIII”, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2004
“Hammock”, Galleri LNM, Oslo, Norway 2004
“Norwegian Export”, Lokstallet, Strömstad, Sweden 2004
"Luminous Recurrence", The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA, (Curator Linda Palaez) 2004
"Norwegian Paintings", Oslo Townhall Gallery, Norway 2004,-03,-02,-01,-00,-99
“Geometric Abstraction XXII”, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden 2003
“Concrete, Non-figurative paintings in Norway 1920-2000,
Lillehammer- Bergen- and Trondheim Art-museum, Norway 2002
“Black and white”, Hot Rod, Oslo, Norway 2002
Galleri Brandstrup, Stavanger and Oslo, Norway 2002
Astrup Fearnely Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, Norway 2001
"Tendencies” Galleri JMS, Oslo, Norway 2001
Hot Rod, (represented at “Schpaa..”), Bergen Kunsthall, Norway 2001
"G. Keyt Int. Artist Camp 2000", The National Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2000
Hot Rod, (represented at “Schpaa..”), The Free Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark 2000
"Summer Exhibition - 2000", Seljord Art Association, Seljord , Norway 2000
"Nordic Art", Eriksbergshallen, Gothenburg, Sweden 2000
Galleri Brandstrup, Moss, Norway 2000, 1999
Galleri Christian Dam, Oslo, Norway 2000, 1999 98
"Contemporary Art – Today’s Tendencies", Gallery Steen, Oslo 1999, -98
"The Annual Exhibition of Northern Norway",
(Bodø, Harstad, Trømsø, Alta) 1998
"The Annual Autumn Exhibition", Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway 1997, -96, -95
"National Academy of Fine Arts", National Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe 1996
"2x2x2",Henie Onstad Art Center, Høvikodden, Norway 1995
"Omnibox", Henie Onstad Art Center, Høvikodden, Norway 1994
"Library", Young Artists´ Association (UKS), Oslo, Norway 1994

SCHOLARSHIPS and GRANTS
Government guaranteed income for artists since 2007
Artists’ Consideration Foundation 2006, 01, -00, 1999, -97
The Foundation of Ingrid Lindbäck Langaard 2006, 1999
The Norwegian working-grant for 3 years 2002-05
The Department of Cultural Affairs Exhibition-grant 2002, 1997
The Foundation of Thv. Eriksen 1996
Erasmus Scholarship for Studies at Ecole Superieur D´Art,
Bourges, France 1995

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS and COMMISSIONED ARTS
The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2006
The Municipality of Lørenskog 2005
The National Road-department 2004
The Swedish Art-Council 2003
The Norwegian Culture-Council 2002
Terra Finance, Oslo 2001
Vesta Insurance, Bergen 2001
STATOIL 2000
The National Foundation for Public Commissioned Arts 2000
County Council of Östergöland, Sweden 1996

TRUSTS
Member of the Board, “The Artists Own Store” (KEM), 2003-
Chairman of the Board, The Association of Norwegian Painters 2000-2004
Member of the International jury of “Echo”, (Experimental Cultural Concept for Heterogeneous Organizers), Germany 2003
Member of the Board, The Association of Norwegian Painters 1998-2000
Member of the Supervising Committee, Artists House, Oslo 1999-2001
Member of the Painting Departments Committee for Professor- appointment at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo 1996
Student Deputy of the Board, The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo 1994

MEMBERSHIPS
The Association of Norwegian Visual Artists
The Association of Norwegian Painters

GALLERY-AFFILIATIONS
Galleri Semmingsen, Oslo, Norway www.gallerisemmingsen.com
Bergen Kunsthall (galleri no 5), Bergen, Norway www.kunsthall.no
Galleri Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden www.konstruktivtendens.com
Galleri GHG, Moss, Norway www.ghg.as

BIBLIOGRAPHY
”Enkel fargelek”, Laagendalsposten, 06.03.07
”Konstruktiv Tendens, 25 år“, catalogue, 2006
”Alles ist ganz nach dem Geschmack der Skandinavier“, Glauchauer Zeitung, 30.08.2006
“Farger og speilinger”, Dagbladet, 30.04.2006
“Paint it black now on exhibit”, Asbury Park press, 12.05.2005
“A show where light is very heavy”, New York Times 19.12.2004
”Balansekunstnerne”, Moss avis, 12.11.2004
”En meget tålmodig mann”, Kunst 2003:03
"Lars Strandh", catalogue 2003
”Kunst å koble av til”, Sunnmørsposten, 20.09.2002
”Kunst med annet tempo”, Tromsø, 15.02.2001
”Tid og eksistens”, Nordlys, 15.02.2001
”Konkret. Nonfigurativ kunst i Norge 1920-2000”, catalogue Design.scandinavia, 2/2001:26
”Malerier og grenser”, Tønsberg blad, 19.06.1999
”Poetisk minimalisme i Galleri Skårer”, Romeriksen, 17.02.1999
"Kunsttimen, evalueringsrapport", Kunst i Skolen, 1998:14
"Strike", Billedkunstneren 2/98
”Grensesprengende likhet”, Fremtiden, 18.08.1998
"Matkyndig Minimalist", Billedkunstneren 1/97