Jon Lindestad Bakken<\/strong> (b. 1972) continues his grand project portraying the water cycle\u2014from mountain snow and ice, through rivers and waterfalls, and out into the fjords and sea. About the project, he says: \u201cThe 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\u2014both 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The exhibition WHERE EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS<\/strong> is both a tribute to\u2014and recognition of\u2014these 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\u20132001) 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, Tr\u00f8ndelag, he finds inspiration in his immediate surroundings: snow-covered mountains, rivers, fjords, and the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About Jon L. Bakken<\/strong>:
«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.»<\/em>
\u2013 Lars Elton, art critic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
«Jon Lindestad Bakken has painted landscapes unlike any I\u2019ve 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.»<\/em>
\u2013 Paul Gr\u00f8tvedt, art historian<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n