Henrik Uldalen: Metanoia

Though many of his paintings are imbued with a sense of melancholy, Uldalen’s latest exhibition, Metanoia, represents a transformation in both the artist and his work. This new collection embraces a kind of letting go. The artist works in oils to create deeply atmospheric depictions of human figures obscured by thick layers of impasto, for an effect that is both otherworldly and emotionally familiar.

For Uldalen, Metanoia represents the mental state of an individual who, for the first time in his life, is embracing change. It is a deeply personal exploration of the psyche, but it also speaks to archetypes of the human experience. Uldalen says: “This exhibition is a symbolic riddance of a certain darkness which I have always carried. I’m not able to define this burden is or why I have it, but I feel something is changing and I am letting go of an image I have constructed for myself. The collection is the slow realisation of the ever-changing self.”

Jean-David Malat founder of the JD Malat Gallery and internationally renowned celebrity art dealer and curator discovered Uldalen on Instagram eighteen months ago. Instagram is now being used effectively as a search engine by the art industry. The platform allows galleries to reach a wider audience to promote exhibitions as well as gauging what competitors are interested in and following artists that they wouldn’t have exposure to otherwise. Malat says “This is an exciting time for the art world, where we can embrace social media. Establishing professional relationships by connecting on Instagram is the future of uncovering the next generation of artists. It will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the careers of many emerging artists.”