Copenhagen Galleries Showcase Surface Variations in August Exhibitions

During Copenhagen's August art fair weekend, three galleries presented exhibitions exploring the theme of surface, each with distinct approaches. Christian Andersen featured New York-based Gianna Surangkanjanajai's untitled photographs and sculptures, which depict erased artworks from previous exhibitions, printed on luxurious paper. Lagune Ouest showed Danish artist Mille Qvist's minimal sculptures made from hat blocks coated in automotive paint and latex, blending readymade and minimalist traditions. Andersen's Contemporary presented a collaboration between Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury and Copenhagen-based Esben Weile Kjær, featuring enlarged children's fireworks cast in bronze and disguised to look like cardboard or enamel, embracing a deliberately superficial pop aesthetic. The exhibitions coincided with the Chart and Enter art fairs, which occupy opposite ends of the city due to internal disagreements. The article, written by a critic for Kunstkritikk, reflects on the distinction between surface and superficiality, noting that while Surangkanjanajai's work is understated and intellectual, Fleury and Weile Kjær's pieces are unabashedly commercial. The critic questions the substance behind the shiny exteriors, suggesting that the appeal may lie in the surface itself. The exhibitions were open during the art fair weekend, attracting international clientele.