REHEARSING VOLUME

Rehearsing Volume

Kirstine Roepstorff describes her mind as being one of collaged understanding. Her practice began in traditional collage, using the medium as a way understand current events and political systems. Slowly, she realized she was more interested in the space between objects in the collage: in understanding how when images moved farther apart, the less dense material can be expanded in between, sensing, feeling, adding value.

In her first solo show with Andersen’s entitled, Rehearsing Volume, Roepstorff further studies this In-between. Rehearsing Volume includes a new style of work for Roepstorff, large scale canvases she calls “water works” and sculptures made of brass and concrete. While the, to some extend, the approach in terms of form and materials for these works are new, the theme behind them remains based in Roepstroff’s interest in subtle structures which moves us through life.

Besides canvas, they are made from simply water and a dash of pigment. These ”water works” are fluid, in colouring almost transparent yet many layered. Due to the working process the works are made almost in blindness. When wettening the canvas turns black and the tone only get settled after 12 hours when the heavy canvas dries up. So in this “blid way of working” the only guideline is patience, intuition end experience.

Like the paintings, the sculptures are an exercise in rehearsing volume and density. They begin as a study in paper. By cutting and folding the paper, you enhance the volume, bringing the possibilities to light. Through the cutting and bending you get an experience of the volume that a flat piece of paper can experience. Similar to origami, concrete is so much about density and space. Although the works are very heavy, they appear with lightness.

Roepstorff sees the exhibition as a metaphor for a literal rehearsal of volume in, matter, mind and spirit, which determine how we perceive and exorcise the life we are given — the red line that runs through each work can be understood as a level. it makes it the work narrative. It illustrates proportion, It can represent the line of human experiences or it can symbolise our aware conciseness and the volumes above and below is yet to be uncovered.

It’s all about rehearsing.

Kirstine Roepstorff (1972) is mainly working with collages and sculptures. The collages are often large using different material like fabrics, photocopies, cuttings, foils, brass, wood and paper.

Roepstorff will represent Denmark at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Her work has also been exhibited throughout Europe and America, including solo exhibitions at Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, CH; National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, NO; The Drawing Center, New York City, US; MUSAC, Museo Contemporaneo de Castilla y Leon, ESP; Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck, AT; Arnolfini, Bristol, UK; Kunsthallen Brandts Klædefabrik, Odense, DK.

Her work is included in the permanent collection of Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA; The Saatchi Gallery, London, UK; National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, NO; The Royal Museum of Fine Art, Copenhagen, DK among others. She lives and works in Denmark.