Nattevandreren

Galleri Brandstrup is honored to present Håkon Bleken “Nattevandreren”, an exhibition showcasing the last paintings created by one of Norway’s most significant contemporary artists. The exhibition, which has been in planning for over a year in collaboration between Håkon Bleken and the Gallery who remained deeply involved in its curation until the very end. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in this collection of works—a heartfelt testament to his boundless creativity, deep passion, and enduring artistic curiosity.

Most of the paintings in this exhibition were completed in 2024, reflecting Bleken’s continued exploration of new techniques and visual narratives. Until his final days, he remained committed to pushing boundaries, embracing fresh challenges, and experimenting with new modes of expression. “Nattevandreren” is not a memorial exhibition, but a celebration of an artist who never ceased to evolve.

The exhibition will open at 6 PM on Febrary 6, 2025.

Text by Karin Hellandsjø
(Translated from Norwegian)

So, in the end, Håkon Bleken did not get to see this exhibition he had been looking forward to, but he was involved in the selection process until the very end. This is not a memorial exhibition, but a vital showcase where we encounter Bleken as a cubist, surrealist, and realist in a broad selection of works. Once again, we are struck by this unique artist’s ability and unyielding will to continually renew himself. Up until the very end, he threw himself into new challenges, often finding them in the exploration of new techniques.

In his final year, at the age of 95, Bleken adopted a spray technique, which is evident in many of the works here. This was completely new to him. Much like the collage technique, which created a dynamic dialogue in the development of his works and excited him, aerosol cans filled with acrylic paint offered the same possibilities. Using metal cans with spray nozzles, he applied paint directly onto the canvas, much like the so-called street artists who work on walls and surfaces in public spaces. This technique was also embraced towards the end of his life by his French colleague, the artist Hans Hartung (1904–1989).

Against the abstract backgrounds left by the spray-painted surfaces, Bleken introduced figurative elements, creating images that open up new worlds and present new challenges for the viewer. It is up to us to engage imaginatively with them. These are images filled with sensuality—where intimacy, satire, and humor, all hallmarks of Bleken’s artistic practice, are present. Set against the pulsating backdrop of the spray-painted surfaces, we encounter cyclists in various situations, tension-filled landscapes, love and sorrow—even Putin meets his judgment here.

At the same time, a sense of harmony pervades this exhibition, showcasing radiant works that mark the conclusion of an artistic career by a painter who remained open and receptive to everything around him and who mastered his craft until the very end.