October 1, 2016 – March 12, 2017
Humsti Bumsti. Storm P. and his paintings
In collaboration with the Storm P. Museum
Robert Storm Petersen is an important part of Denmark’s cultural heritage. He was an astonishingly productive artist who reached a rare level of acclaim and popularity in his time. He is most widely known for his approx. 60,000 cartoon drawings and comics in the form of political satires and caricatures, while being less famous for his watercolour paintings and approx. 150 surviving oil paintings – which is quite a pity, as Storm P. is, in fact, also an important figure in Danish art history.
In collaboration with the Storm P. Museum, Nivaagaards Malerisamling will be featuring an extensive presentation of Storm P.’s paintings, lasting from October 2016 to March 2017. The idea is to raise awareness about his work as a painter in a museum devoted to paintings: Nivaagaards Malerisamling.
Storm P. was very well-versed in art history, and he was inspired not only by the contemporary art of his time, but also older art. He painted figuratively and abstractly; naturalistically and symbolically; social-realistically and poetically; with oils and watercolours and on canvas as well as paper. In short, he was quite prone to experimentation.
This special exhibition will be featuring a large number of Storm P.’s paintings which have not been on display together in Eastern Denmark since the 1970s. The exhibition will also feature paintings which have never been on display publicly. The special exhibition ‘Humsti Bumsti: Storm P. and the paintings’ will also contain the first decoration in Denmark commissioned for children: Storm P.’s wondrously evocative frieze from 1930-1932. The 17 large works he was commissioned to paint for Esbjerg Library, where they have remained – until now!
The chance to experience Storm P. in his full capacity as an artist and painter is sure to be an enjoyable event, not only for connoisseurs, but for the general public as a whole. No one questions his legacy as an outstanding figure in 20th century Denmark, but to this day he has remained relatively unknown as a painter. It is high time that we write Storm P. back into the annals of Danish art history.