back up
kirsten ortwed
15 may–4 july 2025
Back up
Kirsten Ortwed
Dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot all over two scalps and above the black dots: the hair. Artificial humans, real hair and real heaircuts, real heads with sculptural features.
They are:
not looking at each other
not talking
not alone
not interested
not familiar faces
not all ears
not shy
not in need of scarves
Lie like you mean it, like hundreds of kilos of bronze on the floor. This is not a tub. This was a tub. The sculpture as well as the tub are lying. First it was a hollow for liquids and humans, eventually it became a hard pile unfit for bodies. Form transformed, function down the drain. Out of the blue and fire, this black backside appears and instantly it is frontal. Deep sea forehead or mummified belly. Blowhole, navel, button.
It is:
not a useful container
not warm, nor wet (anymore)
not oil-black, but close enough
not a whale
Back is back, backing up is backing up, and isn’t any casting process an act of saving. Not from danger but for longer or shorter futures. Sculptures tend to pile up and turn into a body of work. A body of work is easily mistaken for an archive, so what can we do when it turns its back on us.
We can:
save some questions
look closer
consider whether the opposite of a bright pool is a brown hill
consider whether the opposite of casting metal is trimming hair
consider whether the opposite of the gaze is the sculpture or the closed eyes
The opposite of backing up is throwing out. Kirsten Ortwed found two discarded heads in Italy and stored them for later use.
By Nanna Friis
education
1972–1975 The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, DK
upcoming
2025 Sol Nexø, Bornholm, DK (group)
solo exhibitions
2025 back up, palace enterprise, Copenhagen, DK (solo)
2024 presents, palace enterprise, Copenhagen, DK
2022 GOGO, with Rosemarie Trockel and Lawrence Weiner, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK (trio)
2021 Galerie Jahn und Jahn, München, DE
2020 Head Turned, Galerie Jahn und Jahn, Munich, DE
2017 Turning Time, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2016 West Dealer, Galerie Nordenhake Berlin, Berlin, DE
2014 Skulpturen | Bozzetti | Arbeiten auf Papier, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
2013 Run Time, Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
2009 Kirsten Ortwed – Bozetti und Zeichnungen, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
2008 Favoritter, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2008 Full Length, SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, DK
2006 Heavymetalopenspace, Kewenig Galerie, Cologne, DE
2002 DCA Gallery, New York, US
2002 En samling en kunstner, KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, DK
2002 Cinque Terre, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2000 The Sculpture’s Palette, Horsens Art Museum, Horsens, DK
2000 The Sculpture’s Palette, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2000 Stop Over, Overgaden, Copenhagen, DK
1999 Zeichnungen, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1999 Kirsten Ortwed, with Lawrence Weiner and Barry Le Va, Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, SE (trio)
1999 Ghosts Among Others, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1998 Rzeźby, Centre for Comtemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL
1997 The Danish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Venice, IT
1996 Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
1996 Galerie Jule Kewenig, Cologne, DE
1995 DCA Gallery, New York, US
1995 Kunstforeningen Gammel Strand, Copenhagen, DK
1994 Museé Des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Nantes, FR
1993 Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1993 Städtische Museen, Heilbronn, DE
1993 Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1992 Nordic Arts Centre, Sveaborg, Helsinki, FI
1992 Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
1992 The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik, IS
1991 Miller Nordenhake, Cologne, DE
1991 Galerie Riis, Oslo, NO
1990 Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
1990 Moderna Museet, Stockholm, SE
1989 Galerie Maria Wilkens, Cologne, DE
1988 Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1988 Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, DE
1998 Overbeck-Gesellschaft, Lübeck, DE
1998 Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremen, DE
1987 Galerie Lång, Malmö, Se
1986 Skulpturen, Kunsthalle Mannheim, Mannheim, DE
1986 Galerie Tilly Haderek, Stuttgart, DE
1986 Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1986 Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1985 Galerie Jurka, Amsterdam, NL
1984 Galerie Olsson, Stockholm, SE
1985 Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1983 Galerie Anders Tornberg, Lund, SE
1982 Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1981 Galerie Nemo, Eckernförde, DE
1981 Galleri Arnesen, Copenhagen, DK
1981 I.e. grafik, with Troels Wörsel, Copenhagen, DK (duo)
1980 Galerie Nordenhake, Malmö, SE
1979 Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, DK
1976 Galleri 38, Copenhagen, DK
group exhibitions
2025 Major Works, Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK (curator and exhibiting artist)
2024 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2024 ARoS Collection: 1960 – now, ARoS, Aarhus, DK
2023 Butterfly, ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2022 Marble, KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, DK
2021 New Acquisitions, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, DK
2019 Nordkystens Kunsttriennale, DK
2018 Youtoo, Kunstnergruppe, Cologne, Germany
2016 Poor Art – Rich Legacy. Arte Povera and Parallel Practices 1968–2015, Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo, NO
2016 The Snoring Princess, Kunstgruppe, Cologne, DE
2015 Embracing Modernism: Ten Years of Drawings Acquisitions, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, US
2014 100 x Forår, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2014 Museumsbygningen/Skulpturi.dk, Copenhagen, DK
2014 Køge Kunstforening, Richters Gård, Køge, DK
2013 lost for words, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2013 Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
2012 WAX – Sensation in Contemporary Sculpture, Gammel Strand, Copenhagen, DK
2012 KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, DK
2010 Skulpturudstilling, Veksølund, Veksø, DK
2010 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2010 Tilløb Til Rum – Billedhuggertegninger, Clausens Kunsthandel, Copenhagen, DK
2009 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2008 Förlust, Wanås, Knislinge, SE
2008 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2008 Op i limningen, Skulpturi.dk, Copenhagen, DK
2008 Kunsten bag tremmer – En udstilling om kunsten i Danmarks bedst sikrede fængsel, Kunstmuseet Køge Skitsesamling, Køge, DK
2007 10 Jahre, Skulpturenpark Köln, Cologne, DE
2006 Et skridt i den rigtige retning, Gl. Holtegaard, Gl. Holte, DK
2006 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2006 Trapperummet, Den Danske Radeerforeing 2005, Kunsthallen Nikolaj, Copenhagen, DK
2005 højde, bredde, dybde, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2004 Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
2004 Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, DK
2004 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2004 Beyond Posters: a visual history of Galleri Susanne Ottesen, DCA Gallery, New York, US
2002 Eventyrhaven, Odense, DK
2002 Umedalen Skulptur, Umeå, SE
2001 Vor-Sicht Rück-Sicht, 8. Triennale Kleinplastik, Fellbach, DE
2000 Veksølund, Veksølund, DK
1999 Raoul Wallenberg Minnesmärke in Stockholm, Skissernas Museum, Lund, SE
1999 Malmö Konstmuseum besöker Wanås, Wanås Slot, SE
1999 Hvid, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, DK
1999 Colour Phenomena, Painted Sculptures in Danish Art 1947-1998, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, DK
1999 Les Adieux, Galerie Jule Kewenig, Haus Bitz, Frechen-Bachen, DE
1998 Platser Statens Konstråd, Riksarkivet, Stockholm, SE
1998 Ordet (Nedbruten), Storkyrkan, Stockholm, SE
1998 Something is rotten in the State of Denmark, Fredricianum, Kassel, DE
1998 Skulpturen, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, DE
1997 Graphit auf Papier, Galerie Thomas von Lintal, Munich, DE
1997 Højt skum, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, DK
1996 Dansk Skulptur i 125 år, SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, DK
1996 Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum, Aalborg, DK
1996 Fyns Kunstmuseum, Odense, DK
1996 Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, DK
1996 Broken Leg – Contemporary Danish Art, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, NO
1995 Referencer, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo, NO
1995 Lillehammer Kunstmuseum, Lillehammer, NO
1995 Bergen Kunstforening, Bergen, NO
1995 Galerie Aurel Scheibler, Cologne, DE
1995 The Hour Of The North, Centro Culturale del Duque, Madrid, ES
1995 Pia Almoina, Barcelona, ES
1995 Gravity’s Angel, The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, UK
1995 4th International Istanbul Biennale, Istanbul, TR
1994 Dialogue With The Other, Kunsthallen Brandts Klædefabrik, Odense, DK
1994 Dialogue With The Other, Norrköping Konstmuseum, Norrköping, SE
1994 Dialogue With The Other, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense, DK
1994 Seven Galleries, Seven Artists, DCA Gallery, New York, US
1993 Juxta-position, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, DK
1993 Udsyn – Med Moderna Museet ind i 90’erne, Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen, DK
1992 Mnemosyne, Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
1992 Wanås Slot, Wanås SE
1991 Questions du sens, Credac, Centre d’Art d’Ivry, Paris, FR
1991 Abject, The Nordic Art Centre, Helsinki, FI
1991 Gulliver’s Reisen, Galerie Sophia Ungers, Cologne, DE
1990 Parcours privés, Paris, FR
1990 Nye Arbejder (w/ Rosemarie Trockel), Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1990 Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, DE
1989 Skulls, Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, DK
1988 Made in Cologne, Dumont Kunsthalle, Cologne, DE
1988 Själen omfattar kroppen, Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm, SE
1987 Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster, DE
1987 Drawings, Galerie Jurka, Amsterdam, NL
1987 Grafik Biennale, Baden-Baden, DE
1986 Säulen, Galerie Jule Kewenig, Cologne, DE
1986 Köpfe, Galerie Biedermann, Munich, DE
1985 Dänische Skulptur im 20 Jh., Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, DE
1985 Trigon 85 – Synonyme für Skulptur (w/ Trockel and Genzken), Neue Galerie Graz, AT
1984 Kunstlandschaft Bundesrepublik Region Cologne, Bremen, DE
1984 Treppen, Galerie Gugu Ernesto, Cologne, DE
1984 Grønningen, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DK
1983 Grønningen, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DK
1983 KUNSTEN, Aalborg, DK
1983 Perspective, Göteborg Konstmuseum, SE
1981 Skulpturudstilling, Odense, DK
1980 XI Biennale de Paris. Paris, FR
1980 Sara Hilden Museum, Helsinki, FI
1980 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
1980 Ung dansk kunst, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, DK
1979 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
1978 Fysisk Poesi, Kunstforeningen Gammel Strand, Copenhagen, DK
1978 11 unge kunstnere, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, DK
1978 Den Frie Udstilling, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
1975 Ny dansk kunst, Vikingsberg Museum, Hälsingborg, SE
1975 Exposition Internationale d’art Contemporain, Allones, FR
1974 Septemberudstillingen, Sophienholm, Copenhagen, DK
1972 Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling, Copenhagen, DK
1971 Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling, Copenhagen, DK
1970 Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling, Copenhagen, DK
public collections
ARKEN Museum for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Ishøj, DK
ARoS Museum of Modern Art, Aarhus, DK
Centre Pompidou, Paris, FR
Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City, MX
Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, DK
FRAC Fonds Regional d’Art Contemporain, Orleans, FR
Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Göteborg, SE
Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, DK
KIASMA Museum for Contemporary Art, Helsinki, FI
KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, DK
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, DK
Magasin 3, Stockholm, SE
Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö, SE
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, SE
Morgan Museum, New York, US
Museé des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Nantes, FR
Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo, NO
Neue Pinakothek Graphisische Sammlung, Munich, DE
Neues Museum Weserburg, Bremen, DE
New Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen, DK
Novo Nordisk Foundation, Copenhagen, DK
Skizzernes Museum, Lund, SE
SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, DK
Sorø Art Museum, Sorø, DK
Städtische Kunsthalle, Mannheim, DE
Städtische Museen, Heilbronn, DE
Statens Konstråd, Stockholm, SE
public commissions
2020 Reflektor (2019-2020), Rigshospitalets Nordfløj, Copenhagen, DK
2018 Ferdinand, Hjorthagsparken, Stockholm, SE
2017 The Gate, Main entrance, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, DK
2016 14-7-2006, Nesparken Moss, NO
2015 Full Length (2008), Havnegade, Copenhagen, DK
2006 Platform (2004-2006), East Jutland State Prison, Horsens, DK
2005 Memorial stone for King Håkon, on the occasion of the Nordic Royal house’s centenary, Charlottenlund Slot, Charlottenlund, DK
2004 Syntax & Section (2002-2004), Lund University, Centre for Language and Literature, Lund, SE
2004 Stones for Courtyards (2002-2004), Frederiksberg High School, Copenhagen, DK
2002 Bering Island (2000-2002), Kirketorvet, Horsens, DK
2001 Monument to Raoul Wallenberg (1998-2001), Raoul Wallenberg Torget, Stockholm, SE
1996 Precious Tower (1995-1996), Kirketorvet, Aars, DK
1996 Well (1995-1996), Anlægstorvet, Aars, DK
awards & grants
2017 Niels Wessel Bagges Art Foundation Art Grant
2009 Vilhelm Pacht’s Artist Award
2002 Thorvaldsen Medal
1998 Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen’s Award of Honour
1997 Painter Niels Larsen Stevns and Wife Annas Award
1997 Ruth and Finn Torjussens Foundation’s Award
1996 Sculptor Viggo Jaris Award
1995 Eckersberg Medaillen (The Eckersberg Medal)
1994 Tagea Brandt’s Award
1993 The Danish Art Foundation’s Working Scholarship
1993 Edstranska Stiftelsen Nordic Price
1993 Eina og C.T. Hollesen’s Artist Award
1987 The Danish Art Foundation’s three-years Scholarship
1983 Silkeborg Artist Award
1981 Bendix
1975 Handelsbankens Scholarship
bio
Born 1948, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lives and works in Denmark
Kirsten Ortwed’s painting, object art and sculpture originate in the early 70’s when she actively participated in the various post-minimalist and conceptualist movements. Her work creates a direct interaction with their surrounding space, often without the need for pedestals or frames. They disrupt and transform the space they occupy, shaping it through actions like perforating, folding, and compressing. This manipulation of space is inseparable from a manipulation of time. Her works are marked not only by the physical space they inhabit, but also by traces of time—whether through the process of creation or the idea that presence always carries a shadow or past. Ortwed’s sculptures are thus more than objects in space; they serve as signs, reflecting the temporal nature of the experience and the layers of meaning hidden beneath the visible form. Combination and relationship between form and material is essential to Ortwed’s artistic practice, just as she examines the relationship between form and space with special attention to process and transformation.