Henrik Uldalen: Paradosis

JD Malat Gallery is delighted to announce the opening of Paradosis, a solo exhibition by London-based Norwegian expressionist artist Henrik Uldalen (b. 1986). Exploring the thorny path for uneatherning the true self through the act of surrender, the show introduces Uldalen’s newest oeuvre to New York City’s art scene. Sourcing his inspiration from the writings of Danish philosopher and theologian Soeren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Uldalen encourages the audience to participate in a thought-provoking reflection upon the meaning of life. 

 

Paradosis stems from the Greek παράδοσις, i.e. the act of giving up; to surrender. The onyx black background symbolises the dread for the world which attempts to consume the troubled mind from within. In this brand new series, the expressive thickly-layered oil paint brushstrokes – impasto technique – are concentrated on the upper part of the depicted bodies. This highlights the fragility of the unsteady mind which surrenders to the darkness. The chiaroscuro technique intensifies the dramatism of internal wanderings, each body depicted on the brim of dispersion in the darkness. Reaching up to three metres in height, Uldalen’s artworks invite the viewers to fully immerse themselves into the soul-searching abyss. Midway through the exhibition, one starts to notice a striking contrast: the lower parts of the bodies seem to be frozen in time, more structural, while the faces are distorted, painted with airy brushstrokes, producing a highly dynamic painterly surface. The titles of the artworks act as symbolic hints, unravelling the details of each scene. For example, Surge depicts a young woman with a timid hand-over-face gesture. The wave-shaped dispersing impastoed lines are reminiscent of the power with which the tide of emotions crushes one’s being. The title acts as a compass, directing the viewer’s visual perception of the piece.