Artistic Influences: An Introduction To My Most Important Artists
- Sophia Söderqvist
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 17
In this series, I’ll share insights about the artists I admire, including those who have profoundly influenced me and more recent discoveries.
I'll start with perhaps the most important artist for me, Per Kirkeby, making this the hardest to write about.
I've rewritten this blog many, many times and have now surrendered to "keeping it simple".
While many may be familiar with Kirkeby, for those who aren't, here’s a brief introduction.
Per Kirkeby
Per Kirkeby (1938–2018) was a Danish artist who began his creative journey as a geologist. His geological studies and expeditions to Greenland sparked his interest in landscape drawing, which later evolved into a career that spanned painting, film, sculpture, and public installations.
While his brick sculptures are notable, it is his paintings that cemented his reputation, earning him a place in museums worldwide.
I first encountered Kirkeby’s work through a teacher at art school. His influence on my early attempts at painting was undeniable. I tried, in vain, to replicate his luminous “fields.” However, I soon realized I didn't fully grasp his mastery of color.
For me, Kirkeby is a benchmark—a towering figure whose breathtakingly beautiful works provoke admiration and even self-doubt. Why paint, I sometimes wonder, when I can never be as good as he was?
This thought eventually gives way to the realization—and a prayer—that every artist, including myself, has a unique voice and perspective.
Kirkeby’s ability to depict nature through abstraction is probably what moves me the most.
His earlier works are darker and more chaotic, while his later paintings are harmoniously spiritual, almost sacred. These paintings—marked by vibrant color fields, rhythmic compositions, and a perfect balance of light and shadow—belong in sacred spaces.
Their beauty is transcendent. Yet, Kirkeby himself was cautious about beauty, often asserting that a painting must not exist solely to be beautiful.
This tension resonates with me. While I value beauty in art, I also need contrasts, imperfections, and the unexpected.
Beauty in art is often scrutinized, yet Kirkeby’s works manage to navigate this complex terrain. His use of complementary colors, controlled compositions, and unexpected details creates paintings that both impress and challenge.
Kirkeby’s legacy is one of brilliance and humility.
Even in his later years, after a stroke forced him to paint with modified tools, Kirkeby’s work continued to evolve, finding fresh and intriguing expressions. His paintings remained dynamic and powerful, yet exuded a newfound simplicity and freedom.
Perhaps this also comes with age and the proximity to life’s end—something for all of us artist's to "look forward too".
For me, Kirkeby’s art is always lingering in the back of my mind, whether I like it or not. He was a true master, and I’m grateful to have discovered him.
תגובות