Name: Opening | Theis Wendt: Dissonant Realms
Start: 2025-01-17T16:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-01-17T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Arden Asbæk Gallery

VERNISSAGE
Friday, January 17, at 16:00-19:00
Arden Asbæk Gallery is proud to present Dissonant Realms, a solo exhibition by Danish visual artist Theis Wendt. The exhibition offers an evocative exploration of the dualities of our world—a poetic journey into the dissonant realms we navigate in the face of shifting realities and uncertain futures.
Shattered plexiglass shards embedded in pigmented resin appear as if frozen in time, caught mid-act. The pieces raise questions about the relationship between destruction and creation—whether we can destroy or criticize something when the very act of destruction transforms into an act of beautification.
The resin castings, with shards of glass suspended within them, are housed in white frames that mimic traditional picture frames. However, the resin and shattered glass occupy the space where a protective glass layer would normally sit, while the intended place for an image remains empty. This reconfiguration melds the image with its usual protector, disrupting conventional notions of image-making and framing.
The ambiguity within the works is a deliberate attempt to create an interaction between the work and the viewer, provoking uncertainty about what is truly being observed, while also reflecting on contemporary reality in which the line between fact and fiction becomes increasingly blurred.
By capturing these shattered materials, Wendt explores the boundaries of anti-aesthetic, suggesting new ways of seeing the visual language of destruction as well as inviting viewers to question conventional perspectives.
The works evoke imagery of shattered glass and melting ice, symbolizing both destruction and transformation. These elements encourage reflection on societal and environmental challenges. Rather than presenting a purely dystopian view, Dissonant Realms offers a nuanced perspective—one that leaves room for contemplation on our shared vulnerabilities and the potential for resilience and coexistence.
Theis Wendt (b. 1981) is a Danish visual artist and graduate of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Applying a broad range of materials. Wendt’s creative process combines sculpture, installation and post-photography into illusionary works that demand viewers’ careful examination. Wendt’s works have been exhibited at Tranen, Gentofte DK, Brandts Sculpture Triennal DK, Odense; Kunsthal Nord, Aalborg DK, Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles US; Kalmar Konstmuseum, Kalmar SE, Nitja Artcenter, Akershus NO among others.