ASGER DYBAD LARSEN
Words by Caroline Ryan
Curated by Emil Nissen
Artwork photgraphy by David Stjernholm
Asger Dybvad Larsen’s work meets at the interchange between painting and sculpture. His reflective and introspective style translates a materials-led approach through a minimalistic lens.
You graduated in 2017, but before this, you had representation at several galleries. How has your work evolved from your student days, until now?
Yes, I started collaborating with my first gallery when I was in my first year of the art academy in 2013 and now I am represented by Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Geukens & De Vil and Gether Contemporary. Since my first solo exhibition in 2013, my artistic practice has developed from a practice more focused on an outspoken, conceptual approach where the idea was what was most important and the art object came second, to a practice that has a higher focus on the tactile and material aspects, and where a work can easily have a starting point from the materials and develop a concept through that.
Your work has a sculpture-like feeling, but you work mostly on a wall, how come?
Yes, that's a good observation. Most of my processes are more related to sculpture or textile practises than painting. My paintings are often cast, sanded, cut, sewn together or woven. There are several different reasons that I use these techniques; the references to other mediums than painting such as sculpture or tapestry, the references to art history such as Arte Povera, and how the techniques I use provide the opportunity to work with elements in the paintings as building blocks that "easily" can be transformed from one painting to another. I have always been very interested in the medium of painting and these methods are a way for me to approach and open up painting for me and hopefully for others as well. In several upcoming shows, I will exhibit sculptures with clear references to paintings in a way turning the method upside down.
Do your ideas come in the moment, or do you plan them before you start a piece?
I usually have two different workflows that I switch between. One is to make a work out of a neatly prepared sketch where I follow my plan 100%. The other is a more fluid approach where I work intuitively and where it’s harder to figure out whether a work is finished or not.
Which other artists, dead or alive do you admire?
I’m influenced by a lot of other artists. I guess it would be impossible to make art without the influence of other artists. I’ve created a list of 100 artists I like to look at: Lone Haugaard Madsen; Theaster Gates; Isa Genzken; Sigmar Polke; Avery Singer; Sterling Ruby; Gosima Von Bonin; Steven Parrino; Ida Ekblad; Danh Võ; Rosemarie Trockel; Piero Manzoni; Lea Porsager; Rolf Nowotny; Katharina Grosse; Alberto Burri; Klara Liden; Andre Butzer; Eva Hesse; Abraham Cruz Villegas; Tove Storch; Wyatt Kahn; Rachel Whiteread; Frank Stella; Ester Fleckner; Matias Faldbakken; Agnes Martin; Lawrence Weiner; Beth Letain; David Ostrowski; Helen Frankenthalen; Sol Lewitt; Jodie Carey; Alexander Tovborg; Lynda Benglis; Richard Prince; Marie Lund; Jaromir Novotny; Doris Salcedo; Andy Warhol; Thea Djordjadze; Jonathan Monk; Carmen Herrera; Robert Morris; Judith Hopf; Justin Matherly; Lee Lozano; Albert Mertz; Alicja Kwade; Jose Dávila; Annie Mae Young; Ad Reinhardt; Sidsel Meiniche Hansen; Wade Guyton; Gunta Stölzl; Salvatore Scarpitta; Christine Overvad Hansen; Jess Fuller; Roni Horn; El Anatsui; Charlotte Thrane; Aaron Garber-Maikovska; Ann Veronica Janssens; Lucio Fontana; Tyra Tingleff; Gedi Sibony; Jenny Holzer; Richard Serra; Nora Schultz; Morden Skrøder Lund; Joyce Pensato; Marcel Duchamp; Birke Gorm; Magnus Andersen; Janet Cardiff; Yun Hyong-Keun; Anna Uddenberg; Tue Greenfort; Sarah Lucas; Conrad Marca-Relli; Haegue Yang; Jordan Wolfson; Lygia Pape; Walter De Maria; Haris Epaminonda; Daniel Turner; Suzan Frecon; Kurt Schwitters; Mai-Thu Perret; Sylvester Hegner; R.H. Quaytman; Michael Krebber; Raphaela Vogel; Michael Sailstorfer; Angela De La Cruz; Jan Schoonhoven; Teresa Braula Reis; Nicolás Lamas; Geta Br·tescu; Mark Rothko.
What are you working on right now?
I'm currently preparing an upcoming duo show with Christine Overvad Hansen at Viborg Kunsthal and after that, I will participate at Artissima in Torino, Italy with Galerie Rolando Anselmi, which I will also participate in a group show in Berlin later this year. Other than that, I'm really looking forward to showing at Art Sonje Center in Seoul, South Korea at the beginning of 2022. At the same time, I will participate in a group show curated by artist Steven Cox at The Bohemians Guild in Tokyo, Japan.
Portrait Photgraphy by Lizette Mikkelsen