“TOO MUCH SAUCE”

THE ARTIST SEEKS ANSWERS IN DECAY. THE ARTIST SEEKS REVELATION IN DISGUST:

“THE ABJECT IS ALWAYS PRESENT, FROM THE BEAUTY OF THE CARCASS OF A MOLE, OR CROW TORN TO PIECES BY THE NIGHTLY FOXES LEFT TO ROT AND PROVIDE NUTRIENTS TO THE HORRIBLE RHODODENDRON BUSH THAT IS SLOWLY TAKING OVER YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, THRIVING IN THE ACID SOIL, SPROUTING ITS FAT BUDS OF KLEENEX-LOOKING FLOWERS. WIPE YOUR NOSE AND CRY OUT ALL THE WHITE PRIVILEGED SHIT YOU EVER FELT. THE PERSEVERANCE AND THE HARDSHIP OF SWIMMING AGAINST THE WAVES IN A SWIMMING POOL FULL OF URINE.

WHO MADE THESE WAVES?

WHO MAKES THESE MOVES?

DO I LIKE THE WARMTH OF THE WATER OR HAVE I BEEN HERE TOO LONG?”

THE ARTIST’S WORK IS ABOUT THE LIGHT IN SORROW.

THE ARTIST’S WORK IS ABOUT THE LAUGHTER IN HYSTERIA.

THE ARTIST’S WORK IS ABOUT THE LOVE IN A CRY FOR HELP.

THE ARTIST’S WORK HAS TO STAND ALONE, LIKE THE KID NEVER PICKED UP FROM THE DAYCARE, SCREAMING IN THE SCHOOL YARD FOR FORTNITE AND LASAGNE:

“HOW HAS LIFE EVER BEEN SO DIFFICULT?

HOW DO WE TUMBLE DOWN THE SLIDE TO FACEPLANT, TEETH-FIRST, INTO THE COLD RAINY SAND?”

THE ARTIST SPREADS EMOTIONS:

“I SPIT ON MY PAINTINGS YET AGAIN THEY ARE THE MOST DEAR TO ME. I AM A GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL, CARRYING MY SPAWN OVER MILES AND MILES — HIBERNATING FOR YEARS AND YEARS — JUST TO SLOWLY HAVE CARRIED ALL I LOVE WITH ME INTO A FULL SYMBIOSIS OF SELF-HATE AND PASSION. WORKS ARE MADE WITH HANDS BROKEN AND HEALED. HEALED BY THE LAUGH IN THE ABJECT, THE FLOWER IN THE TOILET AND THE SCREAM OF A LOVED ONE. ALWAYS BE PREPARED: THE MOMENT IS NOW AND THE MEDIUM IS LIVING. LONGER AND LONGER, LONGER THAN YOU.”BY MILLY BURROUGHS

OSCAR JUUL-SØRENSEN IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST, BORN IN DENMARK IN 1989. HE STARTED PAINTING WITH OIL AT THE AGE OF 19, LATER MOVING TO THE NETHERLANDS IN PURSUIT OF AN ART EDUCATION. HE GRADUATED FROM KABK, ROYAL ACADEMY OF ART WITH THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE AWARDED TO HIS INSTALLATION AND VIDEO WORKS. JUUL-SØRENSEN NOW RESIDES AND WORKS AS AN ARTIST IN BERLIN.

THE ARTIST’S WORK PRESENTS CONTRAST, EVOKING SCENES WHERE EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AND LOVE AND HATE EXIST SIMULTANEOUSLY AND FRICTIOUSLY. THE AUDIENCE IS INVITED TO OBSERVE HIS FASCINATION WITH TRIVIALITY AND MAKING VISIBLE THE CRACKS IN IDYLLIC MUNDANITY:

“FUCK THE HALLMARK GREETING CARDS AND THE CRAVING FOR PICTURESQUE LIFE. FACADES ARE MEANT TO BE DEALT WITH AND BROKEN DOWN. DAILY ENCOUNTERS, FRUSTRATION AND PASSION — BIG MOCKTAIL OF LIFE — WHAT IS TRUE? WHAT IS FALSE? WHERE DO I STAND AND WHERE DO I FALL? PERSEVERANCE HELD UP BY PERSUASION OF THE SUPEREGO. THE PAINTING IS TO BE BEATEN. IT IS ALWAYS A FIGHT WITH THE MEDIUM, AND I HAVE TO DISCOVER SOMETHING — A LIE OR A TRUTH WITHIN — BEFORE STOPPING.”

THE ARTIST PAINTS BECAUSE HE NEEDS AN OUTLET. HIS WORK STANDS FOR SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED IN WORDS, POETRY OR SONGS. INSTALLATION VIDEO AND AUDIO ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE OF THE VIEWER WHEN THE WORK IS DISPLAYED. HOWEVER, THE PAINTINGS WORK AUTONOMOUSLY AND ARE THE BASE OF THE WORK AND THE IDEAS:

“I NEED TO BURST THE BUBBLE OF BILE GROWING INSIDE OF ME. OUTSIDER EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS CARVE THEMSELVES INTO MY CHEST AND I EITHER EAT IT UP OR SHAKE IT OFF. LIKE WATER ON A GOOSE, SHAKE IT OFF, CLEAN YOUR FEATHERS, OR GET THE FULL BOTTLE SERVICE OF THE GREY ONE AND CHUG IT TILL YOU PUKE.

THE PAINTING HAS TO TELL A STORY.

THE PAINTING HAS TO STAND ALONE YET FUNCTION AS A WHOLE.

THE PAINTING HAS TO BE BIG, CLOTTY, IN-YOUR-FACE AND COLOURFUL,

YET VULNERABLE, OPEN TO FAILURE AND A HOPE FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THIS.”

THE ARTIST COMBINES PAINTINGS WITH DIGITAL MEDIA IN INSTALLATIONS, SO AS TO CREATE AN OVERWHELMING ENVIRONMENT:

“THE MEDIUM MUST BE A UNITY OF AS MANY DIFFERENT STRAINS AS POSSIBLE, IN ORDER TO CREATE A FEELING. LIKE A GIANT VIRTUAL REALITY PIZZA, REACHING AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE WITH TOPPINGS CHANGING THROUGHOUT. IT IS ABOUT FEELINGS AND REACTIONS, BUT IT STEMS FROM MEMORIES OF THE PAST THAT MIRROR A VOICE OF CULTURE, UPBRINGING, AND DESIRES. ENTERTAINMENT, SUPEREGO — WANTING TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD — PATRICK SWAYZE. YOU PULL THE BUOY FAR FAR INTO THE SEA, UNTIL IT REACHES ITS PEAK ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND SHOOTS UPWARDS AND PIERCES THROUGH THE SURFACE OF THE VAST OCEAN SOARING INTO THE SKY WITH ALL THE POWER FROM BEING TRAPPED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA — A ROCKET MAN, LIKE ELTON JOHN SANG.”

by Milly Burroughs