Erik A. Frandsen
Erik A. Frandsen is a self-taught artist. In the years 1976-1979 he studied ceramics in Greece, spent time in Carrara, Italy training as a sculptor and went to Paris, France where he worked with graphics.
In 1981, Erik A. Frandsen moved to Copenhagen, Denmark where he founded "Værkstedet Værst" an artistic collective, with amongst others Christian Lemmerz. Erik A. Frandsen was part of the “det vilde maleri” movement during the early 1980s. The imagery of Erik A. Frandsen’s art is ambiguous, as it proves at once both inviting and rejecting. In Erik A. Frandsen’s earlier production his works were constructed by multiple layers, the first layer was the actual motive and the second were objects obstructing the motives such as rubber tire, photographs, boxes and lights applied to the canvas or drawings. Erik A. Frandsen’s earlier imagery centred on eroticism, which initially invited one in, in seductive manner, but at second glace appeared cold and rejecting due to the obstructions.
A significant example of this is from 1992 where Erik A. Frandsen participated at Dokumenta IX with drawings that were obstructed by fluorescent tube lights, where the poetics of the drawings were obstructed by the hardness of the light.
Another characteristic of Frandsen’s artistic practice is the recycling of motives and the application of these to various mediums with an altogether different expression as the end result. Erik A. Frandsen has in series repeated specific motifs in order to illuminate, that what is not visible at first glance, and make one see it. For example motifs previously painted in acrylic on aluminium are recycled in mosaics of Venetian smalti. A sought motive by Erik A. Frandsen is that of his family in intimate, everyday situations. Whereas this imagery at first gives rise to the notion of family life in harmony, at second glace they appear unnerving due to the juxtaposition of the same image in photographic negatives. The same goes with the flower compositions. They are not flower motives in the traditional sense, but more so images of interiors in which the flowers are placed. Erik A. Frandsen’s flower motives are not traditional flower motives but weeds such as thistles and dandelions placed in urine bottles and kitch vases.
Erik A. Frandsen has since moved on to new techniques and new materials. Large reflective stainless-steel surfaces have been treated with polishing tools to “paint” sensuous flowers traditional symbols beauty and life, but also of mortality. Frandsen have previously used the floral motif in his exploration of the private domain, although usually in acrylic on aluminium. In his first solo-exhibition at Galleri Faurschou in 2004, Erik A. Frandsen presented radical new works. Onto the surface of large reflective steel sheets, Frandsen's characteristic flowers motives were engraved. Heavy metal and the honing of a drilling machine had replaced canvas and brush.
Despite the unusual material, the motives of the paintings are instantly recognizable as Frandsen's. A rose is placed in a urine bottle, large funnel-shaped flowers are bursting with sexual connotations, spring onions are left withering in a bowl and numerous types of flowers are placed in oversized vases. The clash between the material and the motive is intense. Steel flowers are impossibility. When encountered the works are sensually seductive, yet projecting a rejective cool.
In their material simplicity the flowers are of almost symbolic character. In their minimalist expression the works become signatures, signs or even lines of abstract character. Simultaneously the works are also concretely perceived, when hanging on the wall the works also functions as mirrors reflecting their surroundings - both the gallery space as well as the viewer. Because the viewer is confronted with him- or herself in front of the reflective steel, the paintings become vanitas symbols, a memento mori of our finite lives.
In art historical context the flower motive has sustained as a symbol of beauty, sensuality, life, death, and vanity. Erik A. Frandsen has earlier applied the flower motive as a symbol in his artistic exploration of intimacy, relationships, and home life as the chosen themes of his paintings.
As with the thematic link to his earlier work, the steel artworks refer to work produced in the mid-80s, where Frandsen experimented with cutting out motives in wood and projecting these as shadows onto the wall.
Erik A. Frandsen continues his ongoing exploration of lines and perspective, central to his artistic expression. With his steel sheet paintings, painted without brush, colour or canvas Frandsen offerd an interesting perspective on the current status and possibility within painting.