Jakob Oksbjerg: To the end of reality

Faxe-based artist Jakob Oksbjerg (b. 1985) works primarily within the medium of painting although he also incorporates elements of wood-carving, soft-sculpture and textile production into his practice. Frequently deriving the imagery for his works from extended periods of meditation, or from oneiric visions experienced in the form of distorted memories, Oksbjerg’s paintings demonstrate a broad interest in mythic symbolism and pre-historical methods of signification.

Whilst his approach is often rigorously methodical, the artist also embraces his intuition and at times allows his compositions to be wholly guided by de-rationalised impulse. Oksbjerg’s approach to the figure is largely archetypal and unidentified men and women often appear situated within expansive and atmospheric landscapes.

The artist favours an expressive approach towards colour and much of his work is grounded in a quietly intense palette of earth tones, lush vegetative greens and pulsing ultramarines. An ambition towards holiness, or at least a strong impression of spirituality is consistently detectable and Oksbjerg has at-times evoked overtly Christian iconography (albeit flittered through an abstract visual lens). More recent works have engaged with semi-fictional narratives surrounding the archeological discovery of several mysterious artifcacts; re-imaginging the appearance of these largely undocumented objects throught a process of “para-psychological” visualisation, Oksbjerg’s practice foregrounds the influential power of the human body as a tool for projection and manifestation.

Kilde: Bricks Gallery