Frans Kannik

Frans Kannik Helge Aleksander, painter, graphic artist, sculptress and performance artist.

Born 24.7.1949 in Copenhagen. Parents: museum conservator Preben K. and ladies’ tailor Lillian Agnete Dressel. Married ~23.6.1990 in Copenhagen with stewardess Berit From Austeen, *27.10.1955 in Copenhagen, daughter of engineer. Niels A and Gudrun From Andersen. Divorced 1993.

Watch Frans Kannik paint on youtube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_34mFklic0]

Education

Serigraf 1968: calligraphy studies, Oslo 1971-1974: generally self taught.Travels and foreign residence: residence in Oslo 1971-1974: South America 1992: Paris 1993.Scholarships and distinctions: State Art Fund 1985-87, 1993, the 3 year stipendium, 1988: art dealer Bachs exhibition scholarship 1986: Inger and Aage Nielsens scholarship 1987: Prix d´Art Moderne 1989.

Exhibitions:

Hvidovre Library 1981: Sophienholm 1982 (with the Leifsgade 22 group): Rolling Mill, Copenhagen 1983 also with Leifsgade 22: the workshop exhibition in Leifs-gade 22, Copenhagen 1984: Artunion, Copenhagen 1984 (with Leifsg.*): North Jutland Art Museum, 1985 (with Leifsg.): Gyrr 1985: Project Langelinie 1985: Brandts Artcenter (Odense) 1986 with Leifsg.: Randers Artmuseum 1986 with Leifsg.: Collegie de Arquitectos de Malaga, Spain 1986 with Leifsg.: Skulptur 86, Hollufgård, Odense 86: Charlottenborg fall exhibition 1986: The Da. Show, GB 1986: Stedelijk Museum, Oostende, Belgium 1986: North´s 10 year anniversary exhibition Fyns Artmuseum 1986-87: K18 Kassel 1987: Nord.: Artcenter Sveaborg, Helsingfors 1988 (with Leifsg.): Vejle Artmuseum 1989 (with Leifsg.): Gl. Holtegaard 1990 (same): Tendencies in present Danish art, Vejle Art-museum 1990: Grønningen 1990-94: Reflections, Frederiksborg Art-museum 1992: Pathos, Den fri udstilling 1993,Visual Exitement, Amsterdam 1994.

Separate exhibitions:

Lyngby Art-library 1982: Tranegården 1983 (with Anita Jørgensen): Brandts Art-house, Copenhagen 1985, 1987: Association of Danish Art Unions 1985-86: Gymnasiernes Vandreudst. 1987: Forum, Hamburg 1988: Esbjerg Art-museum 1991: Arthall Copenhagen 1993.Paintings: Citron (lemon) - (1984 Ministry of Culture): Fjerbold (shuttle-cock) - (1984 for the same): Græsk drøm (Greek dream) - (also for the Ministry of Culture): Painturage (1987, Randers Museum of Art): Uden titel (without title) - (from a series called The 9, 1989 Vejle Museum of Art): Næsehorn (rhinoceros) - (exhibited 1989): De tre gratier (the tree Graces) - (1990, Restaurant Kannalen, Copenh.): Kosmos – Kannik – kusse (cosmos – Kannik – pussy) - (1991 School of Journalism, Aarhus): Decoration of Skovshoved Hotel (1994).Sculptures: Numerous sculp-tures in plastic, plaster, cement, foam rubber, as well as other things, destroyed after each exhibition.Graphic or lithograph: Nume-rous lithographs, among a lot of things, Jordens Løfte (the promise of the earth) - (book with poems by Sten Kaalø, 1992).

Performances:

Domus Vista, Copenh. 1982 (with Finn Petersen): Gallery Sub Set, Copenh. 1983: Susanne in the shower, Gallery Kongo, Copenh. 1986 (with Trine Walther): The Art show on TV, 1986.Posters: Among other things he has produced posters to the Royal Library 1989: posters for theatre.

Beginning in 1980 Frans Kannik quickly became an important figure on the Danish art scene. Kannik was one of the founders of the art group Leifsgade 22, which had a central role in the 1980´s neo-expressionistic devel-opment. Kannik is a multifarious artist, and has worked with a lot of different modern expressions, as for example video and installations. The main part of Kannik´s work is figurative painting with the naked human body as the dominant motif. The human body is painted in a classic, idealistic shape with movement as the principal theme. Often the background is painted on assemblage, the colour attitude is douce like the “worn out” colours of the assemblage-materials.Literacy: Kaleidoskop, 3-4, 1983, 4Of; Hellen Lassen in: North Inf., 127, 1984: 132, 1985: Hrymfaxe, 2 and 4, 1986; Arts Review, 1986: Martin Zerlang, Søren Nagbøl and Falk Berger: F.K., 1991

Other media: Gallery 11, DR-TV (Danish broadcast company) 17.3.1994

Akvarel Biennale Sweden 2006

Gallery Veggerby separate exhibition 2003

Gallery Birch separate exhibition 1995