OLIVER BAK

Bak’s pictorial worlds are propelled by constant synthesis and anchored in a deep understanding of the medium’s history. His mottled brushwork and magnetic use of colour evoke the dreamlike paintings of Symbolist, Surrealist and Nabi painters. Plants seem to sprout from the surface of his canvases and empyrean figures emerge from between leafy areas and flecks of light, breaking down spatial categories. Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers are pleased to present Bak’s first exhibition at the Berlin gallery, marking the Danish artist’s debut show in Germany.

Resisting the idea of the past, present and future as a linear progression of events, Bak’s re-imagining of myths let time collapse. The works’ many layers provide a space for contemplation and hint at an undefinable interiority that is absolutely and resolutely human, ultimately enabling the viewer to perceive the invisible.

Born in 1992 in Denmark, Oliver Bak lives and works in Copenhagen. Recent Solo Exhibitions include Caves in the Sky, Cassius & Co, London (2023) and Sick with Bloom, ADZ, Lisbon (2022).

Text courtesy Sprüth Magers