Oliver Bak
b. 1992
Copenhagen, Denmark

Drawing upon art historical references, Bak's paintings often exhibit a temporal complexity that establishes the potential for a fresh perspective bridging the gap between the past and the present. Substantial chromatic backdrops evolve into hazy landscapes inhabited by human figures, animals, and natural elements. The interaction between these beings and their surroundings deliberately blurs, weaving them together with either a radiant or opposing glow, as if symbolically highlighting the social and psychological conflicts within the characters. The material processes and layers pull the imagery further from its source material, immersing it in its own distinct reality where narratives unfold unburdened by the lyricism of days gone by. Bak's motifs suggest a touch of the romantic, albeit one tempered by internalized emotions and expression—an understated drama searching for a point where the figures simultaneously emerge from and blend into their environment, offering protection and empowerment, muted yet impassioned.