Odd Nerdrum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Odd Nerdrum
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Nerdrum at Gallen-Kallela Museum, Finland in 2020
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| Born | 8 April 1944 |
| Nationality | Swedish-Norwegian |
| Education | Joseph Beuys |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Kitsch movement |
Odd Nerdrum (born 8 April 1944) is a famous Norwegian painter. He is known for his unique style of art. Nerdrum's paintings often tell stories and show people in a special way. He gets ideas from old masters like Rembrandt and Caravaggio.
His art is very different from abstract or conceptual art. He paints everyday objects, portraits of people (including himself), and big pictures that tell a story or show a dramatic event. The people in his paintings often wear clothes from a long time ago.
Nerdrum studied at the Art Academy of Oslo. But he didn't like the modern art taught there. So, he decided to teach himself how to paint in an older style. He also studied for a few months with the German artist Joseph Beuys. Nerdrum believes his art is "kitsch" rather than "art." He even wrote a book called On Kitsch to explain this idea. Many of his students and followers also call themselves "kitsch painters."
Contents
Biography
Odd Nerdrum's Early Life
Odd Nerdrum was born in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1944. His parents were Resistance fighters during World War II. They were sent to Sweden from German-occupied Norway. About a year later, after the war ended, Odd and his parents moved back to Norway.
When Odd was young, his mother went to New York to study fashion. This made him feel lonely sometimes. In 1950, his parents divorced. His mother, Lillemor, then raised Odd and his younger brother.
Odd Nerdrum's Early Education
Nerdrum started school in 1951 in Oslo. He went to a private school called the Oslo Waldorf School. This school was different from regular public schools. It was based on a philosophy called anthroposophy. This idea suggests that humans were once more connected to the universe.
Learning at this school was often very active. Students would act out history or fantasy stories. They also did musical exercises that looked like old Greek patterns. These patterns, showing figures moving together, later appeared in Nerdrum's paintings. His time at this school also helped him appreciate old images and costumes.
Even when he was young, Nerdrum showed great talent and worked very hard.
Personal Life
Odd Nerdrum has been married to Turid Spildo, who is also a painter, since 1995. Turid helps manage the Nerdrum Studio. They have two sons, Öde and Bork, and twin daughters, Aftur and Myndin. Their children are also involved in creative work like art, documentaries, and acting.
Artistic Study
Nerdrum started studying at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts. However, he soon felt unhappy with the direction of modern art. He especially disliked works like Rauschenberg's Monogram, which was a stuffed goat with a tire around it.
Because of this, Nerdrum began to teach himself to paint in a Neo-Baroque style. He was greatly inspired by Rembrandt's techniques. He saw Rembrandt's painting, The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis, in Stockholm. Nerdrum said seeing it was like "finding home." He felt a strong connection to Rembrandt's work.
By choosing this older style, Nerdrum went against what was popular in art at the time. He felt isolated from his teachers and other students. He later said that he chose a path that would make him paint "in defiance of my own era."
Nerdrum also studied with Joseph Beuys in Germany. But he still felt different from the other students there.
Influences
The two biggest influences on Odd Nerdrum's art are the old masters Rembrandt and Caravaggio. Other important artists who influenced him include Masaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Titian. He was also inspired by artists like Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Goya, and Edvard Munch.
Direction
Odd Nerdrum's Early Work (1964–1982)
For the first twenty years of his art career, Nerdrum created large paintings. These works often challenged common social or economic ideas. His paintings from this time were very detailed and realistic. They sometimes included modern things like clothing or a bicycle.
In 1968, Nerdrum saw the works of Caravaggio for the first time. Caravaggio's paintings were very intense and used strong shadows to make things look three-dimensional. This had a big impact on Nerdrum's art. He visited Italy many times to study Caravaggio's work.
Nerdrum also read books by writers like Rudolf Steiner and William Blake. These books explored spiritual and mystical ideas. This influenced his art to look beyond just everyday life.
A major change in Nerdrum's art happened around 1979-1980 with his huge painting Refugees At Sea. This painting showed 27 Vietnamese boat people. Nerdrum later felt this painting was too sentimental.
Change in Direction
Around 1981, Nerdrum's art changed. He moved away from the sentimental style of Refugees at Sea. His new paintings were simpler and more direct.
Instead of many figures, his paintings often showed just one or a few people. He also painted single objects, like a brick or a loaf of bread. The people in his new paintings seemed very calm and still. They often wore timeless clothes like furs or leather caps, not clothes from a specific time.
These figures seemed to exist in a world beyond our own time. They were often in stark, empty landscapes, suggesting a place after a big event or in a different reality.
Painting Technique
Nerdrum paints using traditional methods. He mixes his own colors and works on canvas that he or his helpers prepare. He also paints by looking at real people, often himself or his family members.
In 2011, Nerdrum mentioned that a painting technique he used in the 1980s had a problem. He had used a special mix of oils and wax to try and paint like the old masters. However, some of these paintings later started to melt or fall apart when exposed to heat.
Odd Nerdrum's Process
Nerdrum describes his painting process like struggling in water. He says, "I will try with all means not to drown. Sandpaper, rags, my fingers, the knife--in short everything. The brush is rarely used." This shows how hands-on and intense his painting method is.
Drawings and Prints
Odd Nerdrum also creates prints based on his paintings. For example, an etching called Baby comes from a painting with the same name. He also makes very detailed charcoal drawings. These drawings are often large and can be seen as artworks on their own, as well as studies for future paintings.
On Kitsch
Odd Nerdrum says he is a "kitsch-painter." He identifies with kitsch rather than with the modern art world. At first, people thought he was joking. But later, with books and articles on the topic, it became clear that Nerdrum's view is a way of criticizing contemporary art.
Nerdrum's Work as Inspiration
Odd Nerdrum's art has inspired other creative works:
- A 2000 horror film called The Cell had a scene influenced by Nerdrum's 1989 painting Dawn. The director, Tarsem Singh, said Nerdrum's painting inspired the look of the scene.
- Australian dancer Meryl Tankard created a dance piece in 2009 called The Oracle. This dance was inspired by Nerdrum's art and explored how humans struggle with outside forces.
- The Norwegian classical composer Martin Romberg wrote piano music in 2014 called Tableaux Kitsch. These pieces were inspired by three of Nerdrum's paintings: To the Lighthouse, Stranded, and Drifting.
Art Market
Odd Nerdrum's painting Dawn was sold for a high price at Sotheby's in London. It sold for £341,000 (about $428,637) in 2016. This set a new record for his art, selling for more than his previous record holder, The Cloud, from 2008.
Collections
Odd Nerdrum's paintings are displayed in public art collections around the world. You can find his work in places like:
- The National Gallery in Oslo, Norway
- The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo, Norway
- The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
- The New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans
- The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in San Diego
- The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis
He is also represented by the Forum Gallery in New York.
Exhibitions
- Skiens Kunstforening, Skien, Norway "Minner" June–September 2017
- Galleri Agardh Tornvall, Stockholm, Sweden "Making Painting Great again" November 2017
- Mollbrink's Art Gallery, Uppsala, Sweden "Making Painting great again" March 2018
See also
In Spanish: Odd Nerdrum para niños
