Per Kirkeby Retrospective at Museo d'Arte Mendrisio

The Museo d'Arte di Mendrisio in Canton Ticino hosts the first major retrospective of Danish artist Per Kirkeby in Italian-speaking territory, curated by Simone Soldini with Barbara Malacrida. The exhibition, set in a former convent with a cloister, features works from 1982 to 2011, including sculptures, paintings, and works on paper. A centerpiece is the large bronze 'Herakles' (nearly 4 by 2 meters). Kirkeby, born in Copenhagen in 1938, was a geologist, philosopher, writer, architect, and art critic. His many Arctic expeditions from 1958 to 2011 deeply influenced his creative output. The show highlights his use of brick as a sculptural material since 1965, creating architectural installations like tents, fences, and huts. One such work was presented at Documenta 7 in Kassel and demolished in 1986. Kirkeby also designed houses and museum spaces in Denmark and Germany from 1993 to 2009. His film work includes experimental films, documentaries, and feature-length movies, notably a 1972 film on Greenland. He collaborated with Lars von Trier on 'Breaking the Waves' and 'Dancer in the Dark', creating distinctive sets. The exhibition runs until January 29, 2017.