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. The paintings confront viewers with meditations on youthful ideals, beauty standards, and the ultimate truth of impermanence.
Ole Aakjær, born in 1962, is an acclaimed watercolor and ink artist based in Copenhagen. Before becoming a painter, Aakjær enjoyed a prominent career in advertising. His background in illustration and the visual language of advertising influenced the storytelling nature of his work. Combining text and imagery with bold and vibrant colors, Aakjær creates compelling and accessible compositions. He has had the honor of showcasing his work in two museum exhibitions: Vejle Kunstmuseum in Denmark in 2021 and the Diocesan Museum in Andria, Italy in 2022. Since 2014, Aakjær has participated in over 75 solo and group exhibitions. The artist lives and works in Vejle, Denmark.
