THE FLOWER OF THE UNIVERSE shows examples
of the meditative mysticism in Else Alfelt's
series of colourful 1960s paintings.
Else Alfelt's journey to Japan in 1967 opened her eyes to new artistic possiblities. The impressions from the temple gardens of Kyoto, the Heison Mountain, the full moon over Fuji, and Nara with its two thousand stone lanterns made lasting impressions on her painting along with the strong influence of the art of calligraphy.
In zen-buddhism Alfelt felt to have discovered a philosophy which she had unconsciously embraced and been artistically guided by through most of her life. Since her earliest paintings her art has contained only reminiscences of the natural world, such as contours of mountains or moons, instead challenging the viewer to direct his or her gaze meditatively inwards. It is through the empty and disinterested experience of art that we achieve access to our inner selves.
A wall-to-wall carpent with artwork by Else Alfelt fills up the museum's round exhibition hall along with Alfelt series of paintings THE FLOWER OF THE UNIVERSE, which held a special fascination for the artist during the second half of the 1960s. The exhibition invites you to stay in the room for a while and allow the tranquility and calm to pervade you.
In 1968, Else Alfelt fitted a zen-garden into her exhibition LAND OF THE STONE LANTERNS which displayed a number of her recent paintings heavly inspired by Japanese culture. Now, 50 years later, Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum reinstates Alfelt's transient zen-garden in the museum's exhibition hall.
Paper, being lightweight and easy to transport, was the medium of choice for Else Alfelt during her travels to Japan, and her paper artworks from this period are shown in THE FLOWER OF THE UNIVERSE along with her zen-garden.
Else Alfelt: The Moon's Landscape with Craters, 1969.
THE EXHIBITION IS SUPPORTED BY
Knud Højgaards Fond | Helle Mau Jensen og Døtres Almennyttige Fond | 15. Juni Fonden | Augustinus Fonden | Toyota Fonden
Beckett-Fonden | A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til Almene Formaal | Spar Nord Fonden
Herning Kommune | Buddha Board | Per Nørhaven | Bestseller Retail Europe A/S | Nygård Ølby | Carl-Henning Pedersens Fond
Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond | Ege Tæpper | Midtjydsk Skole- og Kulturfond | Lysgaard Fonden