Smörgåsbord

Berntson Bhattacharjee is proud to present Smörgåsbord: a group exhibition celebrating Nordic contemporary art. In collaboration with Angeliki Kim Perfetti, a Swedish art historian, writer and curator, this exhibition offers a delectable spread of artistic talent, exploring the nuanced character of the region’s art scene. Featuring six prominent artists from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland to present their unique practices – Johan Deckmann, Baldur Helgason, Jenni Hiltunen, Sally Kindberg, Shoplifter, and Constance Tenvik – the exhibition defies the notion of moderation in Nordic art, instead embracing a bold and vibrant approach. Through their distinctive practices, the exhibiting artists bring...

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Deckmann is both an artist and practising psychotherapist. He ingeniously repurposes found books by painting them with satirical phrases, reflecting life's complexities. Drawing from his background in psychology, he creates artworks that evoke universal fears and challenges, utilising language playfully to provoke self-reflection.

Baldur's work captures the essence of modern life through an expressionistic style that blends nostalgia, humour, and mania. Using a classic cartoon aesthetic, his work explores themes of identity, sexuality, and the human condition by subverting and depicting the human form. Despite tackling raw subject matter, his art ultimately uplifts and empowers, reminding us of the joy, beauty, and meaning inherent in our existence, even amidst life's darkest moments.

Hiltunen's canvases boldly challenge conventional norms of gender and identity, drawing inspiration from the pages of fashion magazines and art history. She skilfully exaggerates without moralising, dismantling conventional representations of femininity with a reflective rather than declarative attitude. Her work navigates the intersection of personal yearning and collective experience, weaving melancholy with humour and emphasising the joy of painting through bold strokes and vibrant colours.

Exploring the interconnectedness of high and low culture, Kindberg's paintings serve as a mirror to our collective desires and triumphs. With a keen eye for the absurdities of modern life, her figurative compositions blur reality and abstraction, tragedy and comedy. Her humorous approach acts as a portal that enables us to explore our more unsavoury emotions.

Best known for her inventive use of both synthetic and natural hair, Shoplifter's sculptures and installations probe the cultural constructs of vanity, beauty, and self-image. For her, hair serves as both a medium of expression and a profound symbol of individuality. Humour plays a large role in her life and work, sometimes subtly, but at other times taking over.

Tenvik's artistic practice encompasses painting, textile design, music, and curatorial projects, allowing for an unconstrained exploration of expression. Her paintings focus on highly stylised portraiture, portraying the human form with vibrant twists and curves, infusing static figures with a dynamic sense of motion. Through intersecting forms and patterns, Tenvik creates a unified plane of vivid colour, blending individual figures with their emotions and movements into a cohesive whole.