NOW HERE, THEN THERE: PART 1, spotlight on Bjørn Nørgaard

Susanne and Bjørn Nørgaard began their collaboration in 1980, working initially with prints which were published together with Niels Borch Jensen.

It was in 1983 that Susanne realised the first exhibition at Store Kongensgade, presenting a solo show of sculptures by Bjørn Nørgaard.

The exhibition also featured the artist’s 6-part print ‘Slagtet på Rheden’, an iconic work that later contributed to Nørgaard being invited to create the 17 tapestries for Queen Margrethe II’s 50th birthday. The project began in 1990, with the artist creating full scale plans of the monumental tapestries to send to the two Parisian ateliers tasked with bringing his designs to life, but it was 10 years before they were complete! In 2000 (for the Queen’s 60th!), the work was installed at the palace with a fitting inauguration dinner attended by the Royal Family and with a speech by Nørgaard. You can still experience these special tapestries today, which remain on view at Christiansborg Palace.

The artist also presented ceramic models for the work ‘Menneskemuren’ in his first exhibition with the gallery in 1983. ‘Menneskemuren’ was to feature in a major Nordic exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum and was made as a tribute to the diversity of New York as Nørgaard experienced it at the time. The work was later acquired by The National Gallery of Denmark where it was on view for 10 years. It has since been on loan to Horsens Art Museum where it is placed prominently in front of the museum.

Coming to the present day – 40 years later – NOW HERE, THEN THERE: PART 1 will re-create Nørgaard’s very first exhibition, bringing it from Store Kongensgade to Gothersgade. Both ‘Slaget på Rheden’ and the drafts for ‘Menneskemuren’ will be presented together once more.

For the occasion of 40 years, Bjørn Nørgaard performed one of his infamous ‘actions’ on the opening day of the exhibition, titled ‘MONSVENERIS: AKTION’.

Pictured here, Susanne and Bjørn Nørgaard at his Copenhagen studio in 1987.