King of kitsch and metaphysics: the work of Odd Nerdrum

There is a rare genre in the art world that can inspire wonder, alarm and admiration, and one of its masters is Norwegian artist Odd Nerdrum.

With his unique style, a mixture of influences from Rembrandt and Caravaggio to Heinrich Füsli, he creates works that remain in the viewer’s memory for many years. To be more precise, he created...

In his works one can notice a special attention to chiaroscuro and contrasts, which gives the paintings a tense atmosphere reminiscent of a nervous premonition of inexplicable horror. This distinctive style is the result of the influence of past masters, as well as experimentation with the expression of emotions.

Nerdrum strived to create art that dealt with universal human emotions, often pointing to how Rembrandt did just that. He believed that modern art places great emphasis on novelty, and that it should return to the sentimental, the primary, the natural.

Nerdrum himself defines himself as the “king of kitsch” and a “historical anarchist.” His approach to creating works of art is unusual: he prepared his own paints according to old traditions and used various non-standard tools such as sandpaper, knives, rags and even his fingers.

“A good painting should smell like sweat,” said Nedrum, “and it should appeal to the old masters. But not because they are old, but because they really are masters.”

Nevertheless, his creative path is filled with challenges. In 2011, the harsh Norwegian judicial system sentenced the almost 70-year-old artist to 2 years in prison (without the right to paint!) for alleged tax evasion. In 2014, he faced charges again. However, he was pardoned in 2017.

Despite all the difficulties, Nerdrum continues to create and inspire his fans around the world with his unique perspective on art and life. His works remain an important contribution to world artistic culture, enriching it with new ideas and emotions.

Source: nerdrum.com