Poul Ekelund: Living creature - Living landscape

The visual artist Poul Ekelund (1921-1976) would have turned 100 years old in 2021. Vendsyssel Museum of Art celebrates this with a large retrospective exhibition.

In his age, Poul Ekelund was known and loved for his evocative and vivid depictions of the landscape, but he has since lived in obscurity in Danish art history. The exhibition seeks to re-insert Poul Ekelund in art history through new research-based knowledge and a contemporary look at the artist.

The exhibition unfolds the life’s work of Poul Ekelund by thematically illuminating the basic motifs: Man and landscape. Poul Ekelund’s observation of nature merges with imagination and emotion, and the works thus become reflections on the relationship between man and nature. Therefore, the artist appears highly topical today, where climate and environment are at the top of the agenda.

Initially, Poul Ekelund lived and worked in Birkerød, then in Mønge in Nordsjælland, Vangså in Thy, and finally, in Tornby in Vendsyssel. The impressions from the different environments can be read in the paintings.

Poul Ekelund worked serially with landscapes, model studies, and still lifes. The serial working method is emphasized in the exhibition, that presents a wide selection of works from the 1940s to the 1970s.

The exhibition is arranged in collaboration with Odsherred Art Museum, Museum Vestsjælland, and Museum Thy/Heltborg Museum, where it will be shown in 2022.

The project is supported by:

15. Juni Fonden, Augustinus Fonden, Beckett-Fonden, ENV-”Fonden”, Lemvigh-Müller Fonden, Ny Carlsbergfondet, Spar Nord Fonden, Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond.