One of Leonard Cohen's images now on display in Copenhagen. This picture is called: "It was the Hat, afterall" (detail)
The artist Leonard Cohen
By Kim Flyvbjerg
17 August 2013, 18:58
"If there were no paintings in the world, my be very important," says Leonard Cohen with his usual warm modesty about his art, for the first time can be seen in Denmark.
The first Danish exhibition of his art can now be experienced here in Copenhagen.
The 78-year-old Canadian is not just a poet, writer, singer and songwriter. He has spent the last 40 years also expressed the pictures, and it was they, as a large array of locals showed up to watch as the small Gallery Poulsen in the meatpacking district in Copenhagen kept opening on Friday afternoon.
In his usual Meatpacking District-style was canned beer and pub and an extremely busy office, where they were sold out of the numbered and signed works at prices from 5000 to 50,000 pounds. 'I was told that Leonard Cohen has no formal relationship with his art. He'd rather not put on a pedestal where people attack it or take it too næsegrust, "says Jakob Kvist, creative director at Artpeople - publisher had the opportunity to arrange the exhibition through a Norwegian contacts who are friends with his son Adam Cohen .
See Leonard Cohen's art -
http://www.b.dk/billedserier/se-leonard ... illedkunst
Art people contacted Informations art critic Michael Jeppesen, and together with gallerist Michael Poulsen they arranged the exhibition, which has previously been shown in Toronto, Helsinki and Oslo.
But what seems Michael Jeppesen on Cohen as an artist?
"I'm not even huge Leonard Cohen fan, but people are crying when they hear his music. They feel that they are being invited into his life. How I feel about his pictures. They are all made when he gets out of bed and look in the mirror and feel how he feels. He paints the people who lies in his bed, or the people who should be in his bed. He paints a life that should be an icon worthy, but which are not. And I think everyone can relate to. So in that way it's pretty great art, "said Michael Jeppesen.
As a fan of Leonard Cohen's music can be at the show immediately recognize the work with the hummingbird, the heart and handcuffs that were used on the cover of the album "The Future" from 1992. The woman who is on the cover of "Dear Heather" from 2004 hangs there too along with the bird from the cover of his poetry collection "Book Of Longing" from 2006. In addition, a series of portraits of women and even more self-portraits, most of which are accompanied by an entertaining text. "One of those days når hat does not help," reads the text of the self-portrait "The Hat" where Cohen posing in his trademark fedora.
And this is perhaps the hops. Cohen is first and foremost a word man. Were they naive pictures alone, and they were not created by just a world famous singer and poet, they were probably not as interesting. And so what, says Michael Jeppesen:
"Everyone is trying to separate the artist from the work. But it's a silly thing to try. You have to take context with. Leonard Cohen is an icon, and the images are all about him. About himself, his life and his relationship with women. '
Leonard Cohen rarely talk to the press these days, but have posted a few comments on the show in a press release.
'The curator has called the exhibition of Leonard Cohen Artworks. I even call my works Acceptable Decorations, "he writes, continuing with his usual warm modesty:
"If there were no paintings in the world, my be very important. The same with my songs. But now that it is not the case, let us hasten to get back in the queue. '
The exhibition runs until 31 August at Gallery Poulsen, Flæsketorvet 24, meatpacking district in Copenhagen. Thursday-Friday. 12 to 17.30, Saturday. 11-15. gallerypoulsen.com
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