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Nordic Art Boost

Chart, the annual Copenhagen fair that explores artistic cross-fields in contemporary art, is gaining momentum. Originally founded in 2013 by five of the city’s prominent art galleries, Kunsthal Charlottenborg has been the main location for Chart throughout the years.

2016 saw the launch of Chart Design, a new section of the fair that presents the best in Nordic design. Previously reserved for galleries only, this year marked an important change – the introduction of design studios and collectives. We were glad to see Malmö-based Stoft and Stockholm-based Normal Object Factory (which ceramist Alexandra Nilasdotter is a part of) exhibit at Chart Design at Den Frie. We were also really pleased to see another favourite, Jenny Nordberg’s mirrors, showcased.

Here, we list our five favourite finds.

Sigve Knutson

Childlike and naive, Sigve Knutson’s pieces bring to mind sketches, drawings and doodles. The Norwegian designer, represented by Galleri Format in Oslo, merges art, design and crafts in a playful way, and spans ceramics, metalwork and lighting. Having trained at Design Academy Eindhoven, he now lives and works in Oslo.

Ann Iren Buan

Norwegian artist Ann Iren Buan’s vivid work commanded our attention from across the room, and we were instantly drawn into her three-dimensional ’sculptures’. Using dry pastels, paper and water, she kneads, tears, scratches and rubs sheets of paper before layering them in her exploration of decay and destruction. Her work was showcased by OSL Contemporary. 

Frama

Not part of the official Chart line-up, but definitely worth a visit, Danish design brand Frama opened up their studio space for an exhibition named ’The Analogue Process’. As the name implies, pieces by Krøyer-Sætter-Lassen, Studio 0405, Dry Studios and Jonas Trampedach were displayed alongside Frama’s designs in a celebration for the course of making things. 

Kähler

To celebrate its 180th anniversary, Danish ceramic brand Kähler put on a retrospective exhibition in one of the halls at Den Frie, featuring historic and contemporary work alongside a collection of new designs by ceramist Turi Heisselberg Pedersen. Not a great fan of Kähler’s more recent designs (Heisselberg Pedersen’s work aside), we loved seeing some of the work by historic artists such as Svend Hammershøi and Jens Thirslund for the very first time.

Adam Jeppesen

Some artists use techniques and materials that aren’t as widely explored. Danish artist Adam Jeppesen is one such artist, that has moved from two-dimensional photography-based work to a more sculptural expression. Manifested in oil-filled tanks, he suspends a piece of silk using flax string – simultaneously restrained and free-floating. We found his work fascinating. Jeppesen is represented by Martin Asbæk Gallery. 

A selection of designs you might like

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