"Hammer and Nail"
Jacob Dahlgren, John Kørner & Atle Hynne

Jacob Dahlgren (SE), John Kørner (DK) og Atle Hynne (NO)
30 January - 15 March 2009The White Tube is proud to present the exhibition ”Hammer and Nail”. The exhibition has come about through the initiative of Atle Hynne, who has invited the other two artists.

The work of Dahlgren, Kørner and Hynne have clear references to painting. At the same time they move beyond this medium. Their work can just as much be considered as sculptural and conceptual work. The artists take advantage of other elements as “building blocks”, presenting three-dimensional, or installation like, paintings. In connection with "Hammer and Nail" they will be presenting works especially accommodating TWT’s premises. Even though they work differently, their work lingers at the periphery of painting in an expressive and playful manner. The title of the exhibition is meant to indicate their particular style of work.

For Jacob Dahlgren (1970) there is no border or hierarchy between art and life. He uses coffee mugs, clothes hangers, goblets and balls of yarn. His search for new materials usually takes place in budget stores. At the core of his work lies a fascination for the aesthetizisation of the mundane in which the aforementioned products are produced, despite not being required by their functionality. Objects meant to be stowed away are presented in new colourful ways. In the work that Dahlgren presents at TWT thousands of clothes hangers have been assembled on top of each other. Each hanger disappears into the larger mass creating a three-dimensional painting.
Jacob Dahlgren lives and works in Stockholm. He has exhibited both in Sweden and internationally. He participated at the Venezia Biennale in 2007 and is represented by Andrehn Schiptjenko in Stockholm.
www.jacobdahlgren.com

John Kørner’s (1967) work at TWT is political. He refers to his paintings as “problems”. Lately his work has problematised the Danish military presence in Afghanistan under the title “War Problems”. This also constitutes the theme for the work presented at TWT, in which he incorporates three-dimensional elements, such as ceramic objects.
Kørner presents his work with the following statement: “It is sad to say, but unfortunately “War” is an enterprise that survives with mankind – a true companion! It’s not that we don’t desire “Peace,” but war is more a reaction than a statement; or perhaps the other way around? The choice of peace is more theoretical than the choice of physical war. It is, however, a problem for the modern man to choose war, because it undeniably represents regression!

It is a reoccurring theme, and contributes to keeping mankind alive”.
John Kørner lives and works in Copenhagen. He has exhibited at U-Turn Copenhagen Quadriennial (2008), ARoS Århus Kunstmuseum, Denmark (2006) and Moderna Museet, Sweden (2005). In addition he received the third prize in the Carnegie Art Award 2008 and is represented by Victoria Miro Gallery in London.
http://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/_15/

Atle Hynne (1971) works sculpturally with painting. He “builds” paintings through reworking building blocks of styrofoam. His work is playful yet strictly structured with reference to minimalism, constructivism as well as pop art.
At times he incorporates well-known designs with abstract shapes in order to point out the ambiguousness of popular visual references. At the same time his work is more about the process of building, based on our visual surroundings, rather than what is eventually built. This playful and unceremonious interaction with popular references is his way of commenting on an expanding visually referenced world.
At TWT Hynne will be presenting “White Drawing” consisting of adapted and painted styrofoam plates that in combination create a drawing against a grey background.
Atle Hynne (1971) lives and works in Oslo. He has participated at a number of exhibitions in Norway and Scandinavia within the last few years.
www.atlehynne.com