Troels Wörsel

Work

Exhibitions

Text

Video

It is apparent that Troels Wörsel has recently dedicated himself to a number of different themes: the garden as landscape, the image as object and the world of quantum physics. However, as he himself notes, his subjects are not completely disconnected but rather determine one another. One piece is a reaction to the previous, and occasionally they emerge at the same time: a delicate object coated with gold leaf whose internal relief imitates a mountain range seen from an aeroplane; here a crater, there little waves of eroded rock, the whole thing partly framed by a hand-made, Florentine wooden frame which has already played a role within the Danish artist’s oeuvre. The main feature of this frame, its decorative element, which bears no relation to the image within, has clearly been eliminated. Image and object, jewellery and sculpture, inside and outside, content and form melt together in symbiosis. It is unbounded.

The motifs of a small bridge or a luscious green garden invite the viewer to embark on a journey, steeped in thought. Wörsel’s violet paintings dynamically and expressively celebrate the ‘moment’, the ‘sudden’. An entire series of these works, produced in Pietrasanta, Italy, effortlessly capture the fleeting moment with soft, creamy style on the canvas. It is not difficult to see them as the antithesis of the meditative, complex garden works. In such lush gardens, where Mediterranean fauna naturally proliferates, Max Frisch’s description of nature comes to mind: ‘Wherever you spit, it germinates!’ [1]

And what about the large-format, lime-green canvases upon which white explodes like so many concentrated clusters of fluffy clouds while star-shaped rays of light burst through the surface in crystalline form? The surface, which gains depth, breaks up into irrational patterns. Which will get the upper hand, chaos or structure? The mechanical intersection in the centre of the picture is also striking, separating the piece into upper and lower parts. What is subtly and abstractly portrayed here is a (ghostly) quantum skein where particles can exchange information via the speed of light, contradicting Einstein’s theory (the EPR Paradox). The so-called ‘Bell’s Theorem’ calls for nonlocality, which more or less means ‘reality is not local.’ [2] This scientifically proven phenomenon is in opposition to what is typically understood by the terms reality and space, and their relationship to one another. It opens up unbelievable possibilities in terms of natural sciences, but also in terms of metaphysical and philosophical questions and ideas, making their pictorial translations into corresponding, painterly metaphors nothing less than brilliant.

[1] Frisch, Max: Homo Faber, 1. Aufl, 1977
[2] "Physics: Bell's theorem still reverberates", in: Nature 510, S. 467-469, 2014, https://www.spektrum.de/news/kontroverse-korrelationen/1302714 (2018-05-08)

Vita

1950—2018

Aarhus – Cologne

1995

Receives the Eckersberg Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen

2002

Wins Carnegie Art Award’s first prize

2004

Receives the Thorvaldsen Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen

2007

Represents Denmark at the 52nd Venice Biennale

Selected Solo Shows

2020

On Paper – Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark

2019

Maleri. Paintings from the 80s – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2018

Troels Wörsel – Jahn und Jahn, Munich

2017

Frühe Werke. Bilder und Arbeiten auf Papier 1979–1984 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

In the New Space – Galleri Riis, Oslo (Presentations since 1995)

2016

La Pittura – HEART Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Herning, Denmark

La Pittura – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen (Presentations since 1985)

2015

Trial and Error and Other New Works – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2013

Maleri. Udvalg II – Kunstmuseet i Tønder, Tondern, Denmark

2012

Makulaltur – Galleri Riis, Oslo

Sur le Motif – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2010

Arbeiten auf Papier 2009–2010 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Troels Wörsel. A los pies de los caballos – Benveniste Contemporary, Madrid

2009

Troels Wörsel – Art Statements Gallery, Hong Kong

Uden Titel 2009 – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2008

Troels Wörsel. New Paintings – Gallerie Riis, Oslo

Troels Wörsel. Paintings – ScheiblerMitte, Berlin

Troels Wörsel. Venedig Biennalen 2007 – Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

2007

Dänischer Pavillon, 52 Biennale di Venezia, Venice

Bilder, Aquarelle und Zeichnungen – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Troels Wörsel. akvareller – Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark

2006

Troels Wörsel – Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, Skärham, Sweden

2005

Nye Malerier – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2003

Nye Malerier – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

2000

Sønderjyllands Kunstmuseum, Tønder, Denmark

1997

Troels Wörsel. Neue Aquarelle – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

1996

Musée des Beaux-Art de Nantes, Nantes

1995

Troels Wörsel. Arbeiten auf Papier 1979–1989 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Oranges & Holes – Aurel Scheibler, Cologne

Galleri Riis, Oslo (further presentations until today)

1994

Ediciones Benveniste, Madrid

Kunstmuseet Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark

Galeria Archeles, Madrid

1993

Stichting Beeldende Kunst Middelburg de Vleeshal, Middelburg, The Netherlands

Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense, Denmark

Galeria Gingko, Madrid

1992

Galerie a.k., Frankfurt am Main

1991

Troels Wörsel. Maleri – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

Pieni Agora, Helsinki

1990

David Nolan Gallery, New York

Stephen Solovy Fine Arts, Chicago

Galleri Engström, Stockholm

1989

Troels Wörsel. Maleri – Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen

Troels Wörsel. Arbeiten auf Papier – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Nordiskt Konstcentrum, Saveaborg, Helsinki

1988

Galleri Engström, Stockholm

1987

Galerie Klein im Syndikat, Bonn

Galerie a.k., Frankfurt am Main

Troels Wörsel. Aquarelle – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

1986

Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne

1985

Brooke Alexander, New York

Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen (further presentations until today)

Rob Jurka, Kunst RAI, Amsterdam

Alfred Kren Gallery, New York

1984

Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Galerie Biedermann, Munich

1983

Visual Arts Museum (with Franz Hitzler), New York

Galerie a.k., Frankfurt am Main

Galerie Jurka, Amsterdam

Brooke Alexander, New York

Galerie Art in Progress, Düsseldorf

Galerie Klein, Bonn

Künstlerwerkstatt Lothringerstrasse (with Franz Hitzler), Munich

1982

Troels Wörsel. Neue Bilder – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

Städtisches Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn

1981

i.e. Graphic (with Kirsten Ortwed), Copenhagen

Galerie Klein, Bonn

Troels Wörsel. Neue Bilder – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

1980

Troels Wörsel. Bider 1978/79 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich

1979

Kunstforeningen (with Niels Reumert), Copenhagen

i.e. Graphic, Copenhagen

1977

Galleri Birch, Copenhagen

i.e. Graphic, Copenhagen

1975

i.e. Graphic, Copenhagen

Galerie Jurka, Amsterdam

1974

i.e. Graphic, Copenhagen

1973

i.e. Graphic, Copenhagen

1972

Kunstbiblioteket, Hvidovre, Denmark

1971

Kunstbiblioteket, Lyngby, Denmark

1969

Trefoldigheden, Copenhagen

Selected Group Shows

2018

40+10+1 – Jahn und Jahn, Munich

2017

Summer Days – Serlanchius Museum, Götsa, Sweden

2012

Sidetracks – MUST Starvanger Kunstmuseum, Starvanger, Norway

2009

Die Gegenwart der Linie – Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

2008

Made in Munich – Haus der Kunst, Munich

Phoenix Revisited – Lauritz Kunsthal, Copenhagen

2007

Temperance and Opulence. Art and Design Work from Denmark – Moa (Museum of Art), Seoul

2002

Carnegie Art Award 2002 – Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik; Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo; Victoria Miro Warehouse, London; Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen; Helsinki City Art Museum, Helsinki; Röda Sten, Goteborg

1996

Ansigt til ansigt – Brandts Klæberfabrik, Odense, Denmark; Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum Sorø, Denmark

1995

Down the Drain (Alan Uglow, Al Taylor, Kirsten Ortwed, Troels Wörsel) – Galerie Aurel Scheibler, Cologne

1993

Grønningen – Charlottenborg, Copenhagen

1992

Spejlbilleder. En udstilling af selvportrætter – Det nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerrød, Denmark

1991

Questions de Sens – Le Centre d’Art d’Ivry, CREDAC, Paris

Transparencia Azul – Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo; Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro; Museo Nacional de Artes Plasticas, Montevideo; Museo de Arte Moderno, Buenos Aires; Museo de Arte Moderno, Bogota; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas, Caracas

1990

Northlands. New Art from Scandinavia – The Museum of ModernArt, Oxford; The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin

Rauma Biennale Balticum 1990, Rauma, Finland

1989

The 1980s. Prints from the Collection of Joshua B. Smith – National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

1988

Zeichenkunst der Gegenwart – Sammlung Prinz Franz v. Bayern, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich

1987

Points of Contact – Laurie Rubin Gallery, New York

Borealis 3 – Malmön Konsthall, Malmö

1984

Aquarelle – Kassler Kunstverein, Kassel

Sun and Steel. New European-American Work – The Puck Building, Alfred Kren and Serra di Felice, New York

1983

New Figuration. Contemporary Art from Germany – Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles

Absprünge – Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg

Aktuell ’83 – Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich

1981

Rundschau Deutschland I – Künstlerwerkstatt Lothringerstrasse, Munich

Rundschau Deutschland II – Im Klapperhof, Cologne

Bildwechsel – Akademie der Künste, Berlin

Neue Tendenzen der Zeichnung – Kunstverein München, Munich; Berlinische Galerie, Berlin; Kunstmuseum der Stadt Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf

1980

Zeichnungen 6 – Städtisches Museum, Schloss Morsbroich, Leverkusen

Aus Münchener Ateliers – Stadtmuseum, Munich

Ung dansk kunst – Charlottenborg, Copenhagen

1977

03 23 03 Premieres rencontres internationales d’art contemporain – Montreal

Hal Bromm, New York

1975

9e Biennale de Paris, Paris

Fyns Stifts Kunstmuseum, Oslo

1974

4th International Drawing Exhibition – Rijeka, today’s Croatia

1973

Decenter – Mön, Denmark

1969

Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling – Den Frie, Copenhagen

Tegneserier. Tegnede serier – Kunstbiblioteket, Lyngby, Denmark