Odd Nerdrum: Themes by Bjorn Li (1-Jul-2006) Hardcover

by Odd Nerdrum

"Themes" is the most comprehensive collection of Odd Nerdrum's works ever published. Its 500 pages are filled with sketches, drawings and studies, along with excellent reproductions of the artist's most important and most recent finished works. A wide selection of close-up details offers the tightest possible view of Nerdrum's brushstrokes, which will be of particular interest to students--those who wish to learn his modern take on the Old Master style just as they would learn from the work of the Old Masters themselves. The selection is the artist's own, divided into 20 chapters devoted to space, nudes, portraits and other topics, and presented chronologically within each chapter to show the development of specific motifs over the course of his career. This structure and the wide range of work present provoke new insights into the central themes in Nerdrum's work, and his treatment of them from first sketches to final canvases. Nerdrum's latest works--more than 40 paintings in all, dating from the last five years--are presented here for the first time. They complete an unprecedented overview of his oeuvre, a must for everyone interested in the how and why behind one of today's most controversial and celebrated painters.

Genres: Art

Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

crazy amazing paintings. picked up from the library of art books at Varnish gallery/wine bar . . . was antisocial for the rest of the night as I boozed on the couch drooling over the best art book ever. here's a description of one of some of the types of paintings he does, taken from his dealer's website: "Large scale allegorical paintings which depict a time after our own civilization. The figures are dressed in skins and cloaks and the landscape backgrounds are done from studies made on repeated trips to Iceland." He also does some gripping portraits, and his still lifes are very dramatic.

I clearly have a thing for books involving depraved, self-involved (yet brilliant) old men. his images are technically perfect, with an incredible play of light and shadow, but involve elements of the bizarre or perverse. Nerdrum has some pretty heavy themes and bleak moods to communicate, but his work is easy to dig even if you're not trying to think to hard. Or if you are, ya know, jump in. According to Wikipedia, David Bowie owns some of Nerdrum's work, so let his endorsement convince you if mine hasn't.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norwegian Nerdrum calls his paintings kitsch which is pretty funny since they are more like homage and possibly satire of old masters such as Rembrandt. Practically cognitive dissonance to see contemporary faces and expressions on canvases with a color palette and style that look hundreds of years old. The reproductions are amazing. Super saturated prints on really nice paper which enhances the sumptuous old world feel. I think all of these guys are a bit pretentious but they've certainly earned the right to grant themselves fine artist status. This is a great book for finding out what Odd Nerdrum is all about.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't get much better than this as far as artist's books are concerned. The print quality is amazing. The reproductions are amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing.