Ole Aakjaer “The Pink Soul”

Chase Contemporary (521 W23rd St.)

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“The underlying theme of this exhibition is existentialism - a statement about realizing oneself. Expressed through the female mind.”- OleAakjær

Chase Contemporary presents a solo exhibition with leading Danish watercolor artist Ole Aakjær. Inspired by female heroines, The Pink Soul grapples with the complexity surrounding what it means to be a woman. This will be the gallery’s second solo exhibition with the artist.

Pink, a color typically associated with the image of a gentle, fragile woman, has been reappropriated and reclaimed by women to also symbolise strength and resilience. Instead of shying away from the color’s association with femininity, it has been embraced and used in women’s activism, most recently in the pussyhats from the 2017 Women’s March and the Gulabi Gang in North India. In describing his piece Q ueen on a Throne, A akjær says, “times are changing. A new kind of feminist is taking over the world. She conquers the throne, looks around, and begins to redefine the rules.”

This exhibition features new works from 2019, in the artist’s signature style of watercolor and ink on paper. A akjæ r’s mesmerizing female portraits, with their intense gaze and layers of symbolism, each depict an imaginary character with a world of their own. Central to Aakjær’s work is his ability to draw in the viewer; his work invites interpretation. Aakjæ r has said, “you will find that the works are full of clues. You can follow these threads that might lead you to exciting new places and understandings.”
Aakjaer’s intricate portraits are highly symbolic. For example, the recurring motif of the skull is not something dark or scary, but rather a symbol of life and birth, “a necessary framing of life.” Aakjaer’s contemporary portraits aim not only to explore the complexity and strength of women, but to represent, through intricate patterns and symbols, the shadows and echoes of the self, the multiple sides and stories in one’s life.

Ole Aakjær (b. 1962) is a Danish contemporary watercolor artist based in Copenhagen. He began his career as an illustrator and has been running his own studio since 1992. His love of music, literature, films and photographs, along with his childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist, has inspired his unique and vibrant style of painting. He also draws inspiration from his love of fashion, poster-art, pop-culture, film and literature. In the same way, his passion for the great figurative masters, Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele, and Emil Nolde, adds a unique expressionist character to his works.

Aakjær’s works are large format watercolor and ink paintings. After having experimented with various mediums, Aakjær gravitated toward watercolor due to its unpredictable temperament. He typically portrays mysterious women that are strong, fearless, and complex. His explosive career has won him numerous awards and competitions. He has had numerous exhibitions throughout Denmark as well as in New York City, Paris, Montreal, and Switzerland, where he has established a strong collector base and reputation. The artist lives and works in Denmark.