“GAMECHANGER” Installation view. ©FOUNDRY SEOULFOUNDRY SEOUL presents “GAMECHANGER,” a solo exhibition by Mie Olise Kjærgaard, an artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark, through May 11.
With vibrant brushstrokes and dynamic compositions, Kjærgaard depicts women actively playing sports and riding and galloping on the backs of animals, emphasizing women’s agency and freedom. Also, the presence of multiple women figures engaged together speaks to the essential functions and roles of a community. The exhibition brings together Kjærgaard’s work for the first time in Asia, presenting 18 new works centered on the themes of balance and solidarity.
Using raw and unrestrained brushstrokes, the artist depicts dramatic scenes in which the depicted circumstances seem to collapse at any moment. The disproportionate composition, which gives the work dynamism and tension, is not merely used as a tool to set the atmosphere of the work. Instead, it is part of the artist’s intention to push her subjects into situations where they are almost completely off balance. Yet, the women in her works boldly demonstrate that they have the power to take control of the situations they are in, to enjoy them fully, and to own and control their bodies and minds to the full extent.
And the artist captures the woman within her imagination, who is both herself and every woman, in her paintings. By portraying women who seem to belong to a singular group or community, the artist describes the communal bonds and solidarity of women who empower themselves against societal gazes and traditions, supporting each other and enjoying a sense of emancipation together. The artist allows the viewer to speculate on the backgrounds of the artworks, whether it is a tennis court or a beach, without pinpointing a particular country, city, or cultural context. Through this, the artist declares the intention that the individuals within the work can be anyone and should be everyone.
Through the playful, uninhibited movement of women in her paintings, the artist introduces a new portrait of active and assertive women, presenting them through the new works in diverse scales. The works, ranging from a large triptych measuring six meters across to smaller pieces, invite viewers to follow the figures in the works on display, moving freely with their bodies and minds, stretching their arms and legs to the fullest.
