PER KIRKEBY

Behind Per Kirkeby's monumental canvases lies another, more immediate trace: drawing.

Per Kirkeby (1938–2018) was one of the most significant artists of his generation. His paintings are known for their unconventional use of color and dynamic compositions. Yet behind the monumental canvases lies another, more immediate trace: drawing.

In the exhibition Considerations and Observations, Museum Jorn focuses on Kirkeby’s drawings from the years 1979–1989, a pivotal period surrounding his international breakthrough. It is here that the ideas emerge. Here he tests motifs, thinks through forms, and explores landscape, history, and the possibilities of painting. The drawings are not preparatory works in the traditional sense, but independent works in their own right, offering close insight into the artist’s gaze and working process. The drawings are presented in dialogue with a selection of Kirkeby’s sculptural bronzes, which formally exemplify the artist’s considerations on paper

The exhibition is curated in collaboration with the German gallerist Michael Werner, who worked closely with Kirkeby for decades. Werner has selected a number of drawings and bronze sculptures from private collections and the artist’s family. Together, they show how Kirkeby moved between the immediate and the reflective—between reflection and observation.

The presentation is simple and focused. There is no spectacular staging, but space to truly look. Drawings and bronzes stand on their own and invite contemplation. The exhibition offers a new perspective on an artist many believe they know—and demonstrates that great movements often begin in a smaller format.

The title Considerations and Observations originates with Kirkeby himself. It points to the tension between what is seen and what is thought—between what is registered and what is interpreted. It is precisely within this field of tension that his art unfolds.