Lise Harlev

Opening on Thursday, 15 February at 4 - 7 pm
15 February - 24 March, 2024

Chris L. Halstrøm
Sølvgade 19, 1307 København K

Although most objects outlive their owners, gradual decay and fluctuating value are part of every object’s life. Over the past year, Lise Harlev has investigated the lifespan of various objects, from museum artifacts to those items still in use, discarded, or yet to be produced. Her findings have been transformed into a new series of enamel works presented in her exhibition at Sølvgade 19. These works carry short sentences addressing the longevity, value, and quantity of objects in the world. Some statements seem to engage in a dialogue and occasionally contradict each other. They also resonate on a human level, particularly when describing how certain objects gain importance while others are forgotten. The enamel works in “All Objects Will Decay” not only refer to objects; they themselves are objects whose appearance and meaning will change over time. Harlev encourages us to see every object as valuable throughout its different life stages, even after it has ceased to function.

Lise Harlev is a Danish artist based in Berlin. She has long worked with the interplay of words and images in her art. Harlev has exhibited in Europe and beyond, most recently at Le Bicolore, Paris (F); kunstencentrum nona, Mechelen (BE); EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens (GR); Galerie am Milchhof, Berlin (DE); and Skjold Contemporary, Copenhagen (DK). In 2022 she was awarded the prestigious Niels Wessel Bagges Kunstfond.