IDA KVETNY
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Transit, 2009 Acrylic on canvas, 195x222 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY It takes Two, 2010 Plaster and paint, H: 22 cm
Ida Kvetny’s work can primarily be described as an intense impact of energy; paintings exploding in form and color, sculptures that continually reveal new facets, and projections that move in loops. It is never quiet in the works of Ida Kvetny. On the contrary, they shout out loud and seem to attract attention in any room. If they were a person one would say that she came across loud and clear. That she spoke a fantastic imagery language and could tell tales of strange and magic figures. It is, however, up to the observer alone to decipher where the stories begin and where they end. There is no guiding or natural narrative trail in Kvetny’s works, and often the titles are merely vague hints of what is going on in the piece. Green Dream is a black and white drawing where fancy shapes, body parts and ornaments are entangled in a fine arrangement, a lot like filigree. Despite the title, the color green appears nowhere in the work, but one understands how the color green acts as a dream contrasting the physical black and white. Imagination is always ters and figures set on each canvas. Perhaps it is not so important what the motif contains or is made of? More important is the fact, that the detailed composition becomes a powerful impact of energy that reaches out of each work like a turned on television in a dark room. Kvetny is inspired by the computer games she played as a child. By watching her drawings and paintings long enough, it virtually feels like being led to the “next level”.
It works as a limbo with no start or ending, but which involves the viewer in a lavish visual landscape that leads into new areas and opens for new understandings. Perhaps this is how visual arts respond to literature’s stream of consciousness? It is the journey of the subject and not the details of the motif that is in focus. It is as if the artist places the viewer in a riddle with clues in all directions, revealing no apparent meaning and leading everywhere. Entering the works of Ida Kvetny is similar to entering a party where it takes a drink or two to get in the right mood and some time to get acquainted with the other guests. In front of the works the “champagne effect” occurs by itself, welcoming the observer into a banquet of fantasy creatures, where anything goes and the host invites everybody to slip into parallel worlds. Naturally, the works can be seen in many different ways. The possibilities are endless and it is up to the person who sees them. in play in Kvetny’s works. Usually illustrated through arrays of colors, whether it is a small drawing as Pink Party or a large painting as The Meeting. Revealing only fragments of the story through the title, implies that it is up to the viewer to detect and decode this visual universe being both abstract and figurative. One might get the idea that the titles are meant as speech bubbles as used in comic books; content bearing, but detached from what holds the eye.
What the eye sees is often various fantastic shapes in vivid colors using most of the color scale. They are placed close and become an entity as a painting and it would take endless hours to count the many characOne of the most significant features of the pieces by Kvetny, is the endless source of energy that they hold. Although they remain the same, it is as if they constantly change their form, and we continue to see new opportunities in the motifs. It is as if there is a metamorphosis within the works – a change or decay, which is about to happen. This is perhaps where the answer to the initial question is found: There is no clear answer, because the motives never can be captured. It is difficult to specify what a piece by Ida Kvetny shows. But if one closes the eyes after having a Kvetny piece on his retina, it will continue to tone up as silhouettes through the closed eyelids. To have a picture of Ida Kvetny for the inner eye causes the motif to change in one’s consciousness, as a transformation of images that continues to reshape and recompose.
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY 2faced, 2010 Acrylic on canvas, 120x120 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Faun & Nymfe, 2008 Acrylic on canvas, 195x170 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Life Goes On, 2010 Acrylic on canvas, 100x100 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY InsideOut, 2010 Acrylic, gel-pen, pastel on paper, 30x30 cm, Framed
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Orange is..., 2010 Acrylic, gel-pen, pastel on paper, 30x30 cm, Framed
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Purple Passing, 2009 Mixed media on canvas, 150x160 cm.
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Purple Face Dream, 2010 Acrylic on canvas, 90x125 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Installation view
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Word truncks, 2007 Acrylic on canvas, 200x140 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Installation view from Til Vægs på Charlottenborg
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Relief, 2008 Acrylic on canvas, 33,5x44,5x7 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Star Stage, 2008 Painted plaster and MDF, 70x70x70 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Listent2<3, 2010 Acrylic on canvas, 125x187 cm
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Untitled, 2011 Acrylic, gel-pen, pastel on paper, 30x30 cm, Framed
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk
IDA KVETNY Untitled, 2011 Acrylic, gel-pen, pastel on paper, 30x30 cm, Framed
Ida Kvetny Born 1980, Odense, Denmark
Lives and works in Copenhagen Denmark Education: 2007
MFA Central Saint Martins College, London, UK 2004-2006
BA, Drawing & Painting, Edinburgh College of Art, UK 2005
YALE University, Norfolk Summer Program, Connecticut, USA 2002-2003
The Funen Academy of Fine Arts, Odense, Denmark Selected Exhibtions: 2011
Holstebro Museum of Art, Holstebro, Denmark (upcoming)
In Case We Don’t Die III, Helene Nyborg Contemporary, Copenhagen (upcoming) Painterly Delight, Ystad Museum of Art, Sweden
Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark Ceiling Decoration, Docken, Copenhagen 2010
En Face Helene Nyborg Contemporary, Copenhagen
A Flag for every Occasion Wonderland Art Space, Copenhagen In Case we don’t die Vegas Gallery, London, UK
In Case we don’t die Chausseestrasse, Berlin Mitte
Five years after The Purple Pineapple Project, Los Angeles, US One Night stand (a back alley quicky) Raid Projects, US
The HELLO show Helene Nyborg Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
Painterly Delight Kunst Centret Silkeborg Bad, Denmark (travels to Ystad Museum of Art, Sweden, 2011)
The Mentor Show Larmgalleri, Copenhagen, Denmark Solo Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark 2009
Mask Galleri Mikael Andersen, Copenhagen, Denmark Venner, Kammerater, Kolleger Lejre, Denmark ON PAPER Filosofgangen, Odense, Denmark The Party Beaver Projects, Denmark
Human Nature Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark Til Vægs Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark 2008
Blaze Kirkhoff, Copenhagen, Denmark
Funk Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark Grand Opening Galerie Wolfsen, Aalborg, Denmark
Sovereign European Art Prize Somerset House, London, UK
Art auctionand exhibition supporting children in Ethiopia, ARoS, Aarhus, Denmark Rebranding X-MAS Galleri Fedt, Copenhagen, Denmark 2007
PT07 Janusbygningen, Tistrup, Denmark
Eyes on the Prize Bendixen Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mad Love -Young Art in Danish Private Collections ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark
Degree Show Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, London, UK Comix! Brandts Museum of Art, Odense, Denmark
Group exhibition at the Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 2006
Chain, barrel, ladder, jar Kirkhoff, Copenhagen, Denmark
RSA Student Exhibition Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK Female Fantasy Laboratorium, Copenhagen, Denmark Degree show Edinburgh College of Art, UK 2005
January exhibition Edinburgh College of Art, UK
Absolute Summer Show Kirkhoff, Copenhagen, Denmark Total Kunst Edinburgh, UK 2004
Annual exhibition Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK Group Show Koh-i-noor, Copenhagen, Denmark
Student exhibition The Funen Academy of Fine Arts, Odense, Denmark The Spring Exhibition Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark 2003
Cillekrokodille-ninja-laksefrø-heidiho Odense, DK. Artists’ Fall Exhibition Den Fri, Copenhagen, DK.
Student exhibition The Funen Academy of Fine Arts, Odense, DK The Spring Exhibition Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, DK
Animal Planet Exhibition space Valdemarsgade, Copenhagen, DK Prizes/Awards: 2009
Work selected by Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd (The Danish Youth Council) to be given as price for the youth city of the year 2008
Shortlisted for the British Sovereign Art Prize by jury: Sir Peter Blake, Tom Marlow (White Cube), Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), Rachel Campbell-Johnstan (art critic, The Times), Philly Adams (Saatchi Gallery), Alan Yentop (BBC television) 2007
Young Artist of the Year Award, Ledernes Hovedorganisation (Danish Leaders’ Organisation) 2006
Royal Scottish Academy painters prize
The Maclaine Medal, Scottish International Education Trust, UK 2005
Whaleys Prize, January exhibition, Edinburgh College of Art, UK
John Murray Thomson Award for ‘a work by a promising young painter’, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
Grants/residencies: 2010
Artist residency in L.A., USA 2009
Travel grant from the Danish Art Foundation 2005
Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship Grant. Yale University, Norfolk Summer School of Art, USA 2004
Student Travel Grant, The New Carlsberg Foundation, The Funen Academy of Fine Arts, Denmark
Grant from the Toyota Foundation, Denmark Teaching/lectures: 2009
Artist talk/group critiques, The Funen Academy of Fine Arts, Denmark: Mar. 2008
Artist lecture. Vera Art School, Copenhagen, Denmark: Oct. 2010
Artist talk and a 1 week workshop, Ærø Kunsthøjskole: Aug. Commissions: 2007
Site specific work, Nykredit, Kalvebod Brygge, Copenhagen, Denmark 2006
Mural, Youth Center, Karlebo, Denmark Catalogues/books: VITARAP Granat, 2009
Erkendelsens Art Aben Maler Publications, 2009
A Slightly More Sophisticated Publication Cover/Malling Publications, 2009 Til Vægs Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Fälth & Hässel, 2009
Comix! Kunsthal Brandts, 2007
Chain, barrel, ladder, jar Kirkhoff. Centertryk A/S, 2006 Press: Ingen udfordring er for stor Christina Lund Madsen, Børsen magasin #3 26 marts 2009
Kunsterne Maler Direkte på væggen på Charlottenborg Ditte Giese, Politiken: January 2009 I en verden fuld af billeder Katrine Sekjær, Information: January 2009
Fabulerende farveeksplosioner på Galleri Kirkhoff Maria Wernberg, Bryggebladet: April 2008 Junglerytmer Tom Jørgensen, Kunstavisen 03, 2008
Hvisken og råb Torben Weirup, Berlingske Tidende: March 2008
Jeg er et hurtigt menneske Lea Kyndrup, Information.dk: April 2008 KINKY#24 KULTURO. Mar 2007
Kvetnys kunst kræver køkultur Carla Strube, Eurowoman: November 2007 Eventyr på fodrejse Torben Weirup, Berlingske Tidende: November 2007
Hun er på næste niveau Janus Flach Madsen, Berlingske Tidende: November 2007 Kulturpris til fynsk billedkunstner Fyns Amts Avis: September 2007
Kunsten sat i scene Mette Sandbye, Weekendavisen: February 2006
Snørklede fantasier på papir Anne Ringgaard, Politiken I Byen: March 2006 Anmeldere anbefaler Bente Scavenius, Børsen: March 2006
Anmeldelse af udstilling Peter Michael Hornung, Politiken I Byen: March 2006 Flying Colours for Flights of Fancy Scotland on Sunday: March 2006 Den ægte vare Tom Jørgensen, Kunstavisen: Mar.-Apr. 2006
Ung dansk kunst hitter Roberto Zacharias, Fyns Stiftstidende: 3. May 2006 Bud på ny dansk kunst Mette Sandbye, Information: 2006
Da kvinderne tog penslen i den anden hånd Maria Kjær Themsen, Cover: May 2006 Talentfuld 25-årig på nyt galleri Anne Østbygård, Bryggebladet: March 2006 Artists Statement:
The abundance of shape and color in Ida Kvetny’s works may seem abstract at the first glance.
Looking closer you will find a vividly detailed multitude of strange and magic figures all with their own story to tell. The wide variety of painting techniques and the seemingly limitless sources of inspiration such as old school video games and oriental carpets all create a psychedelic effect in the pieces.
The dreamlike universe of Kvetny’s works have no obvious beginning nor end. It is up to the
viewer to decipher the simultaneously abstract and figurative landscapes. The works constantly reveal something new exploding with intense color and form like an endless flow of energy.
GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND BREDGADE 75 DK-1260 COPENHAGEN K DENMARK +45 33939200 WWW.GCE.NU INFO@egelund.dk