1968 Oil Painting by Markan Christensen

Markan Christensen (1927-2014) was a painter, graphic artist and sculptor. He trained as a teacher but went on to work as a self-taught artist, producing paintings and objects in a range of media, as well as co-founding the artist association M59. The association exhibited in Den Frie Udstilling’s building, around Denmark over several decades, and now the artist’s work is represented at a number of art museums.

In this oil on canvas, the bold, sweeping composition draws our eye to move from the top right corner and follow a curved path to the spherical forms near the base of the painting. The directional brush work emphasises this movement, giving the painting a sense of rapid motion and energy. Areas of textured paint contrast with clearly defined, metallic looking three-dimensional shapes. Even though we see some traces of human existence through the use of typography and man-made forms, the artist appears to invite us to imagine we are viewing an otherworldly location.