How I Was First Struck By The Power Of Art

Art has played a major role in my life for nearly 25 years. Today, I want to rewind to one of my earliest and most profound encounters with art. This experience has left a strong impression on me and, in subtle ways, laid the foundation for who I am as an artist and why I have wanted to pursue a life as an artist myself.

The Scenic Route To Get There

When I was 8 or 9, my father began taking my sister and me to the Louisiana Museum of Contemporary Art. It was a 40-minute drive from where we lived, and in itself a beautiful and poetic trip along the east coast of Zealand.

I remember loving these rides almost as much as the museum visits themselves. I would gaze out the window of the backseat of my father’s white VW Golf. It had a CD player, which was huge at the time, and made tracks like Oasis’ “All around the world” the integral soundtrack of this period of my life.

The Dread Of Running For Your Life

It was during one of our visits to the Louisiana Museum that I encountered a video installation that I’ll never forget. The piece was displayed in a small, dark room behind heavy black curtains. On the back wall, a video projected an alley in what I assumed to be a big city, perhaps New York.

A group of people with various disabilities was trying to escape a massive fire racing toward them from down the alley. One person was in a wheelchair, another on crutches; the rest are a blur in my memory. What I do remember is the overwhelming dread and urgency - the raw humanity of their struggle to survive.

Though it was an animated video, it felt real. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen and left me shaken and profoundly moved. Looking back, I feel privileged to have experienced something so emotionally intense, even as a child. This piece showed me how art could evoke powerful emotions and connect with viewers on a level, which words often cannot. The piece was made by the Swedish artist Magnus Wallin and titled “EXIT”. You can find it here: https://www.magnuswallin.com/portfolio/exit/.

Below is a still from the video piece (the artist has approved its use in this article).

The Louisiana Museum became the stage of many of my early profound experiences with art. By the age of 12, I was already taking the bus on my own to visit the museum after school. I would find a certain peace surrounded by the pieces of art which I hardly understood. They did indeed disturb me, yet I was drawn to this world I didn’t quite understand yet felt represented something powerful and significant. In a way, I felt at home there.

How I Carried It With Me

At the time, I didn’t consciously dwell much on the experience with the powerful video piece. I went on with my childhood, but that moment planted a seed - a subtle understanding of art’s ability to communicate the intangible. Years later, as my own life became more emotionally complex, I naturally turned to art as a way to express what I couldn’t articulate.

A very early painting of mine from around 2003.

In hindsight, the video’s themes of escape and overcoming limitations resonated deeply with me. As a teenager navigating emotional challenges, I often felt hindered or “disabled” by my lack of experience or means to process what I was feeling. Art became a refuge and a tool for self-expression, helping me make sense of those turbulent years.

Another very early painting of mine from around 2002.

The Theme Of The Escape Continued

As a young artist, I explored many styles, sometimes drawing from the raw power of negative emotions. In those years, creating art was both an escape from and a confrontation with those emotional states.

However, over time I found myself less drawn to expressing intense emotional states and more interested in exploring introspection. Today, my work often delves into themes of longing and inner landscapes - what I call “soulscapes.” While the theme of escape remains present in my art, it has evolved into something subtler, more meditative than dramatic.

“Blue-striped Beach House With Yellow Sky”, 80cm × 60cm, 2022.

Art remains an emotional endeavor for me, with my feelings serving as a compass for each piece I create. That early experience at the Louisiana Museum was a pivotal moment, showing me the profound emotional territory that art can navigate. It’s a lesson I carry with me every time I step into my studio.

Do you recall your early experiences being moved by art? I would love to hear about it! Either share it in the comments or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading 🧡