Jon Lindestad Bakken

WHERE EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS

22nd of May – 15th of June

Jon Lindestad Bakken (b. 1972) continues his grand project portraying the water cycle—from mountain snow and ice, through rivers and waterfalls, and out into the fjords and sea.

About the project, he says: “The mountains and the sea are two extremes, yet there is a kinship between them. Two powerful forces of nature, once associated with something greater than humanity—both beautiful and threatening at the same time. Rivers have always connected them, in an eternal cycle of ice, snow, and water. But this cycle is changing, and it reminds us of our fragile relationship with nature.”

The exhibition WHERE EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS is both a tribute to—and recognition of—these vital elements. Through an eco-philosophical lens, Bakken highlights how imbalance in this cycle can have serious consequences for both nature and humanity.
Bakken studied at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo (1997–2001) and works primarily with figuration in painting and drawing. He is especially drawn to themes from nature and the human relationship to it, with a strong focus on winter landscapes and light. With studios in both Vinje, Telemark, and Orkland, Trøndelag, he finds inspiration in his immediate surroundings: snow-covered mountains, rivers, fjords, and the sea.

About Jon L. Bakken:
“It is the light and color palette that form his starting point, and within these majestic landscapes, he explores the minimal. The vast and the intimate in a single breath.”
– Lars Elton, art critic

“Jon Lindestad Bakken has painted landscapes unlike any I’ve seen before. The motifs themselves may not seem extraordinary, but his formal expression and visual themes make them unique. Despite restrained means, the artist has developed a landscape genre that is both distinctive and innovative.”
– Paul Grøtvedt, art historian