Op Alle De Ting, 2019-2020, Martin Hansen’s bicycle ride

Most Parisians only know Maison du Danemark at the top of the Champs Elysées for its fabulous restaurant where aquavit and “unilaterally cooke” salmon are the prime attraction. But if you go up to the second floor, you will find a pretty art gallery which regularly shows Danish artists. This time and until July 31, Jesper Christiansen exhibits his landscapes and interior scenes with all the mystery of the North. Northern light, northern flowers and trees and this made me want to travel to Seeland this summer. On the floor above are the New York Times offices.

Anatomy of Melancholy, 2019-2020

Since Jesper Christiansen does not drive most of his country paintings are done within a range of 15 kms from his house, the distance which his electric bike can sustain (30 kms return) without being charged. This gives us “Martin Hansen’s bicycle ride” with the bicycle being at the center of the painting. One of his particularities is that he always introduces text in his works, characters written in such a way that you only discover them from very close up. They can be words or parts of a novel. He describes this process as “seeing the whole picture and reading the story”.

Jesper Christiansen in front of 16 watercolors inspired by Nicolas Poussin

Whenever he arrives in Paris, Christiansen rushes to the Louvre and spends the morning in the Nicolas Poussin room where he draws or copies the works of the XVII th artist whom the former president of the Louvre Pierre Rosenberg so cherished. HIs watercolors presented as large postcards on one wall are a moving tribute to an artist who is revered by many.

Maleri til min kone, 2020, at le Bicolore, the Danish art center on the Champs Elysées

This is the third stop for the exhibition after Odsherreds Kunstmuseum  and Skovgaard Museet in Viborg. Maison du Danemark, 142 ave des Champs Elysées, until July 31. Et restaurant Flora Danica.