IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA
Who would have ever guessed that the discovery of paintings by an unknown Norwegian artist would cause such upheaval in the art world? When art collector Haakon Mehren was led to a barn filled with oversized canvases, his jaw immediately hit the floor. Who was this artist? After some sleuthing, Mehren introduces the world to Aksel Waldemar Johannessen, an unapologetic alcoholic who did the unthinkable. Johannessen painted the poor, often using his image mixed with dark and twisted imagery of inner turmoil.
Self-portrait painted by Aksel Waldemar Johannessen
Art is subjective, but there is undoubtedly a most elite shroud in curating. Norway’s most coveted paintings never before depicted the lower class. Their claim to fame was Edvard Munch. If you know even a sliver about art, you can immediately conjure the image of “The Scream.” The curatorial staff at the National Museum and gatekeepers of the Munch Museum immediately pushed back on adding the works to Norway’s collective narrative. Mehren made it his life’s mission to share Johannessen’s artistic contributions, scheduling exhibitions throughout Europe. The public’s reaction was overwhelmingly delightful. That only fueled the fire from Norway’s elite.
Director Nils Gaup uses a gorgeous score while repeatedly showcasing Johannessen’s paintings. This distinctive choice brings due awe to each piece. There’s no denying that some of the work is frightening, while others are simply breathtaking. The variety of subjects is astounding. You will find yourself lost in them. IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA is the perfect addition to this year’s HOT DOCS 2022 lineup. If you weren’t an art lover before, get ready for your world is about to change.
The painting “Man on a diving board” by Aksel Waldemar Johannessen. This painting was exhibited at The Met.
HOT DOCS 2022 Link to buy tickets:
https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/
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HOT DOCS 2022 FESTIVAL SCREENINGS:
PUBLIC SCREENINGS:
Saturday, April 30 at 11:30 am
Location: Varsity 8 (55 Bloor Street West)
Thursday, May 5 at 8:45 pm
Location: Varsity 8 (55 Bloor Street West)
Running Time: 71 minutes
Language: English, German, Norwegian
Country: Norway, Germany (Feature Documentary)
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