Fredrik Værslev's Retrospective at Astrup Fearnley Museet Explores Abstraction and Everyday Environment

Fredrik Værslev's midcareer retrospective at Astrup Fearnley Museet in Oslo, titled 'As I Imagine Him,' ran from 29 September to 6 January, featuring nine painting series and one photo series from the past decade. The exhibition highlighted Værslev's unconventional production methods, such as the Canopy Paintings (2011), which were exposed to weather to develop a natural patina, and the Terrazzo Paintings (2010), inspired by imitation-marble floors in Norwegian housing blocks. In the smallest room, Sail Paintings (2016) based on harbor sails in Drøbak were displayed, with one hung from the ceiling to reveal its verso. Unorthodox techniques included Mildew Paintings (2013), where mildew grew on canvases stored outdoors for 12 months, and Trolley Paintings (2012), created using a line-marking device from sports fields. The Pyramid Paintings (2015), made from leftover canvases on aluminum frames, were combined with the photo series My Architecture (2008), shot to make office facades appear as one building. Værslev's spatial layout in Renzo Piano's museum architecture added value without interference, emphasizing themes of abstraction's role in everyday environments and personal memories. The Dollhouse Series (2016) featured preliminary studies in suburban house models, while Shelf Paintings (2009) involved contributions from friends and family. The retrospective articulated Værslev's ambition to connect painting to the urban environment of the Norwegian welfare state.