Jul 21

Bjørnar Aaslund

Bjørnar Aaslund is a contemporary abstract painter who has exhibited extensively in Norway and internationally in Greece and the United States. Recent solo exhibitions include features at Fjordheim Gallery in Biri and FUGE Gallery in Gjøvik. Affiliations include the Norwegian Association of Visual Artists and Association of Norwegian Painters. Bjørnar’s work remains in the collections of many hotels and real estate holdings across the United States and Norway. He has also been published in a book by Fabricia Press titled Cold Current, Contemporary artists from Norway.

The paintings are done in either oil or acrylic and are explorations into landscapes of voids and abysses portrayed in a complex galaxy of painterly, broad brushstrokes and dark or misty contrast. Bjørnar’s paintings may come off as totally abstract or roughly depicting specific landscape subjects such as lily ponds or close up fields of florals. Erratic and unpredictable, the brushwork remains highly expressive and conveys a sense of motion and atmosphere.

These energized compositions reflect a deep intuition and relationship with the nature of paint along with a talent for improvisation. Usually devoid of most types of form and conveying a real sense of flatness, the paintings explore contemporary notions in regards to abstraction with a harmonious color palette yet appearing chaotic and full of shifting. Our eyes are directed not only in the spreading out of tones but also in the wild brushwork which present an almost primal spirit and deep connection to the raw nature of paint as a vehicle of articulation and flat surface.

Dragonfly Habitat (pictured above) remains a thoroughly leveled painting which conveys a dynamic interaction between dark reds and pale, muted blues. With rough, aggressive smears separated by fields of color on opposite ends, the painting conveys both a sense of disarray yet unity in consistent application. A bold, expressive painting which towers over the viewer and demands a sense of respect as the contrasting colors become imposing on the surrounding viewing space. Monumental yet raw in execution, Dragonfly Habitat creates an environment of an appreciation for the relationship between surface and paint.

Bjørnar Aaslund can be described as an influential painter who redefines the meaning of expressionistic and abstract painting in contemporary society. With unique, unpredictable, and asymmetrical brushwork and a talent for color harmony, Bjørnar reflects the chaos and empty abyss of postmodern identity. As we reflect upon these staggering paintings the viewer may find a sense of application for dynamics in regards to how painting can convey a sense of oneness within our meditative contemplation.