October 10 — November 9
“In the beginning I was actually very afraid of the watercolors. I guess I was afraid of losing control. But now I love when something happens, something I didn’t expect.”
Ole Aakjaer
Press Release
Isabel Sullivan Gallery is pleased to announce its first solo exhibition with Danish artist Ole Aakjær. MIRROR / RORRIM consists of recent watercolor paintings, created within the last year at the artist’s studio in Vejle, Denmark. The exhibition will be on view from October 10 - November 9, 2024. An opening reception with the artist will be held on October 10 from 6-8 pm at 39 Lispenard Street.
MIRROR / RORRIM explores existential themes of mortality and identity. The title refers to the symbolism of a mirror, which has long been used in poetry, literature, and visual art as a metaphor for youth, self-reflection, illusion, or truth. Aakjær engages with the time-honored subject of a woman staring into a mirror, symbolizing ideas such as femininity, beauty, vanity, and rumination, with the implication that his subjects are either looking at their reflection or are the reflection in the mirror itself.
In Staring Into A Mirror, a woman gazing out at the viewer is adorned with the branches of Japanese maple trees and the outstretched wings of ivory cranes. These symbols hold a rich history in ancient Chinese and Japanese art, representing peace, longevity, beauty and prosperity. In The Daughter Of All Good, a woman stands with her hands behind her back, a gesture of acquiescence, introspection, patience, restraint, or possibly concealment. She bears the markings of a kingfisher bird in flight — another popular symbol in Asian art — representing peace, prosperity, youth and elegance, or love. Nearby is a skull, an almost universal symbol in art for the cycle of life and human mortality. Over her face is the imprint of a ticking clock, a reminder of the passage of time.
Part of Aakjær's practice is incorporating ephemera into his compositions, such as slogans, tattoos, letters, photographs, posters, and other publicly available imagery. Decaying posters from the streets of Berlin make their way into several collages. How To Become Invisible references H. G. Wells’ 1987 science fiction novel, The Invisible Man, with the cloaked silhouette of a man tattooed on the subject's shoulder. The artist evokes 1940s and 50s film noir, such as in the sultry and evocative atmosphere of the painting Neon Heart Dating Joseph. A red communist star makes its way into several compositions, as do birds of prey in flight.
This body of work examines the nature of inner conflict; how we perceive ourselves versus how we exist in the external world, our youth versus our aging selves, what we reveal versus what we conceal. We are confronted with meditations on youthful ideals, beauty standards, and the ultimate truth of impermanence.
Artworks
Inquire
ole
The Cold Shoulder
2024
ole
Too Much Psychology
2024
ole
Staring Into A Mirror
2024
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Hold Your Head Up High
2024
ole-aakjaer
Unknown
2024
ole-aakjaer
The Girl
2024
ole-aakjaer
September
2024
ole-aakjaer
Life Is Only Forever
2024
ole-aakjaer
Sensitive Power
2024
ole-aakjaer
Resilience
2024
ole-aakjaer
It's Only Forever
2024
ole-aakjaer
A Kind Bulldozer
2024
ole-aakjaer
Neon Heart Dating Joseph
2024
ole-aakjaer
Miss Pinot Noir
2024
ole-aakjaer
Flower Power
2024
ole-aakjaer
The Truth In A Mirror
2024
ole-aakjaer
How To Become Invisible
2024
ole-aakjaer
Even In The Smallest Moments
2024