MARTIN BIGUM

Martin Bigum (b. 1966) lives and works in Copenhagen. He is primarily a painter but has since the 90s experimented with graphics, photography, installations, video art, music and poetry. Bigum has exhibited in Denmark and abroad, and his works are represented in Danish and international collections such as ARKEN, ARoS and SMK/The National Gallery of Denmark and in private collections in Sweden, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, USA and Japan.

Martin Bigum is also known as an excellent communicator of his own works and the wider history of art. He is a regular participant in the national TV programme DRK Kunstquiz. Over the years he has written numerous essays, and in 2015 he published the comprehensive book Min personlige kunsthistorie (‘My Personal History of Art’) on his background and personal inspirations, which in 2017 is now out in its seventh edition.
From the age of 15 to 21 years Martin Bigum was an artist and writer for MAD Magazine (the official Danish version).

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS

Air De Paris, Paris, FR, Blondeau Fine Art Services, Geneva, CH, Galerie Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels, BE, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, DE, Wohnmaschine, Berlin, DE, Galerie Burkhard Eikelman, Essen, DE, Frederick R. Weisman Collection, USA, ART/ OMI, New York, USA, Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö, SE, Borås Konstmuseum, Borås, SE, Kjarvalsstadir/ Reykjavik Art Museum, ICE, Listasavn, Feroya, FE, Frank Cohen Collection, London, UK, among others.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS IN MUSEUMS

Arken- Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Copenhagen, DK, Trapholt Kunstmuseum, Kolding, DK, Bornholms Kunstmuseum, DK, Himmerlands Kunstmuseum, DK, Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerød, DK, Vejle Kunstmuseum, DK, Randers Kunstmuseum, DK, Kastrupgårdsamlingen, DK, Brandts, Odense, DK, Heart- Herning Museum of Art, DK, Malmö Konstmuseum, SE, Borås Konstmuseum, SE, Kjarvalsstadir/ Reykjavik Art Museum, ICE.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017
The Ocean, Himmerlands Kunstmuseum, Himmerland/Denmark
Artist of the Year 2017, KØS- Museum for Art in the Public Space, Denmark
Drawings for The Last Days of the Rabbi/ Peoples Press, author Stig Dalager
2016
Martin Bigum, 140 works (1989-2016), Arken, Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
2015
Min egen kunst/My own art, 1989-2015, Frederiksborg Slot, Bornholms Kunstmuseum, Trapholt 2015-16
Honored as Knight of The Order of the Danish Flag (Ridder af Dannebrogsorden) by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the 2nd of Denmark, 2015​
Drawings for Voluspa (Vølvens Spådom)/ Gyldendal, author Suzanne Brøgger
2011-12
SplitVision, P.A.G. Copenhagen
Struktur under huden, Works 2003-2011, Randers Kunstmuseum, Vejle Kunstmuseum, Kastrupgårdsamlingen
2010
SynchroniCity, Dogenhaus Galerie, Leipzig
2009
Structure Beneath Skin, Wohnmaschine, Berlin, DE
2008
Danish Design Centre, designs for Wall-Art & Solidary People
2006
The Face of God, BFAS Blondeau Fine Art Services SA, Geneva, CH
2005
The Face Of God, Nils Staerk Contemporary Art, DK
2004
The Face Of God, Air de Paris, Paris FR
2002-03
The Homecoming or: The World According to ART, Malmö Konstmuseum, Reykjavik Artmuseum/Kjarvalstadir, Borås Konstmuseum
2000
The Notion of Tivoli/Forestillingen om Tivoli, plus ”Overmorgen” the album ( Music)/Nils Stærk
1997-98
The Adventures of ART, Brandts Klædefabrik, Odense, Herning Kunstmuseum, Randers Kunstmuseum, Portalen, Greve
1997
Millennium
Årets Kunstner 1996, Jyllands-Posten, Aarhus Kunstmuseum
1996
Millennium
Retinal Circus, Copenhagen.
Millennium
Art Copenhagen/Galleri Edition Copenhagen
1995
Omen, Galleri Dalsgaard & Sørensen, Aarhus
Devil’s Own, Galerie Burkhard H. Eikelmann, Essen, Germany
Literary Body, Hole, Copenhagen
1994
Conjunction Theory w/Michael Brammer, Hole, Copenhagen
Politikens Forhal, Copenhagen.
1993
Galerie Jespersen, Odense
1992
Radical Myth, Galerie Stærk, Horsens
1991
Heartland, Galerie Pilou Asbæk, Copenhagen
1989
Galleri Backhaus, Copenhagen

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018
Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Havet sover ikke om natten
2017
KIRK Gallery, Aalborg
2016 
Designmuseum Denmark, New Danish Design
2015
Nærværk, show curated by Martin Bigum, POP-UP Contemporary no. 6: Peter Callesen, Louise Hindsgavl, Absalon Kirkeby, Pernille Egeskov, Gerd Laugesen, Anne Damgaard, Bank & Rau, Kasper Skovsbøl
2013-14
Frederick R. Weismann Collection, Under the Influence of Finance & Fashion, Carnegie Art Museum, CA, USA
Relations at POP-UP Contemporary no. 5: (Artists couples) w. Pernille Egeskov, Maiken Bent/Torben Ribe, Anette H. Flensburg/ Bjørn Poulsen, Kristian Devantier/ Isabel Berglund
2010
Nuancer af Sort/Shades of Black, Ordrupgaard  Vejle Kunstmuseum
Dogenhaus Galerie, Leipzig
Flashback- Martin Bigum, photography 1992-2009, Peter Amby Cont. Art Agency
2009
Glober, Nationalmuseet
Galerie Christina Wilson
Angli Heart, Herning Kunstmuseum, DK
2008
Et blik på det Fremmede, Bendixen Contemporary Art, DK
New aquisitions, Herning Kunstmuseum, DK
Trapholt, Kunstmuseet Trapholt, DK
2007
Eventyrskabe, Kunsthallen Brandts, DK
Comix, Kunsthallen Brandts, DK
My Sweet Sixteen Party, Galerie Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels, BE
2006
Faces, BFAS Blondeau Fine Art Services SA, Geneva, CH
Maleri uden grænser, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, DK
Works from the Frank Cohen Collection, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall, GB
2004
The Face Of God, Galerie Hof & Huyser
Arco, Madrid
ArtBasel, Basel, Switzerland
2003
Artissimo, Turin, Italy
ArtBasel, Basel, Switzerland
2001
ARTChicago/ Nils Stærk
ArtForum, Berlin/ Nils Stærk
Artissimo,Torino/Nils Stærk
Aids-fondets maleri-donation og auktion/Statens Museum f. Kunst
Danske Helte, Koldinghus
Painting & Painting, Kristinehamns Konstmuseum
The Faces of King Alcohol, Rundetårnet, Copenhagen
2000
Artissimo,Torino/ Nils Stærk
Stockhom Artfair/ Nils stærk
ArtBasel/ Nils Stærk
Carnegie Art Award 2000: Helsinki Kunsthalle, FI, Henie Onstad Konstcenter, NO, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, SE
Sophienholm, DK, Stockhom Konstakademi,SE, Kopavagur Art Museum, IS
1999
Drawing Show, Stalke Gallery, Copenhagen
Eyes of Reality, Horsens Kunstmuseum
Stockholm ArtFair/ Nils Stærk
ARTFrankfurt/ Nils Stærk
Basel Liste 99/ Nils Stærk
Art Forum Berlin/ Nils Stærk
1998
Stockholm ArtFair/ Nils Stærk
Afsnit P, København
Unikum
Galleri Edition Copenhagen.
Eyes of Reality
Reykjavik Arts Festival, Nordens Hus, Reykjavik.
Liste 98/ Nils Stærk
Young Art Fair, Basel
Art Forum Berlin/ Nils Stærk, Germany
1997
Galleri Andersen & Jul, Aalborg – with Marco Evaristi.
Cruising
Kunstforeningen, Gammel Strand, Copenhagen.
ARKEN Museum of Modern Art
Stockholm ArtFair/ Nils Stærk.
1996
Art Multiple/Galleri Edition Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Nyerhvervelser
Aarhus Kunstmuseum.
Ansigt til Ansigt
Brandts Klædefabrik, Odense – Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, Sorø.
Byens Billeder – Jyllands-Postens Billboardkampagne,
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen – Aarhus Kunstmuseum.
1995
Foreningen Kunst på Arbejdspladsens Samling, 1965-95
Nikolaj Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen.
25 Års Levende Kunst, Politikens Galleri, Rundetårn, Copenhagen
Maleri efter Maleri, Kastrupgårdsamlingen, Copenhagen
ART/OMI-International Artist Workshop, New York
Art Copenhagen / Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen
Vekselerer Michaelsens Legat for Yngre Tegnere
Kobberstiksamlingen/Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
1994
Art Copenhagen/Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen
Art Multiple/Galleri Edition Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Germany
Social Video, Udstillingsstedet, Nørre Farimagsgade, Copenhagen
Stockholm Art Fair/Galleri Edition Copenhagen, Copenhagen
1993
M59, Den Frie, Copenhagen
Art Copenhagen/Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen
1992
M59, Den Frie, Copenhagen
Sommerudstilling, Galerie Stærk, Horsens
National Lampoon/The Crowning Glory,
The Royal Silver Anniversary, Copenhagen.
Galerie Patricia Asbæk, Copenhagen.
1991
Galleri Asbæk, Copenhagen
Trafiklyrik, BizArt, Copenhagen
Charlottenborgs Forårsudstilling, Copenhagen
1990
Charlottenborgs Forårsudstilling, Copenhagen
Charlottenborgs Efterrårsudstilling, Copenhagen
OPUS International, Paris
1989
M1300, B&W-Hallerne

TV

DRK Kunstquiz 2009-16, 7 seasons, 72 programmes
Kunstrazzia: Michael Jeppesen, DRK, 2008
Mesterhjerner: Peter Lund Madsen, DRK, 2017

VIDEOS

1997
Runner (Millennium)
version 2, 14 min.
1996
Runner (Millennium)
version 1, 12,5 min.
1994
Having it all … Letting it go (Hybris & Nemesis), DR, 5 min.
1993
Det bliver så tidligt sent w/Per Kirkeby, Henrik Nordbrandt, Søren Ulrik Thomsen in co-operation with Steen Møller Rasmussen & Per Mannstaedt
2011-12
SynchroniCity- 4 videos

POETRY AND ESSAYS

www.martinbigumessays.dk
www.poet-etik.dk
2014
Min personlige kunsthistorie / My Personal Art History, Gyldendal
2006
Poet-etik (essay,poetik,digte), www.poet-etik.dk, Dark Horse Entertainments/ Forlaget Rhodos
1999
Veteranen, Borgens Forlag
1996
Overmorgen (Millennium), Borgens Forlag
1992
Verdensvasen, Borgens Forlag
Music
2000
Overmorgen, exclusive vinyl- long player in limited edition, 66: 05 min
Theatre
Jean Genie, Kalejdoskop Teatret, s.m. Jesper Binzer og Lars Plumhoff, 1998; costumes and stage design
Laser & Pjalter, Betty Nansen Teatret, s.m. Pernille Egeskov; costumes and stage design

REPRESENTATION IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Statens Museum for Kunst/ The National Gallery of Art, Copenhagen/ARoS- Aarhus Kunstmuseum/ARKEN, Museum of Modern Art/ Kunstmuseet Trapholt/Ny Carlsberg Fondet/The New Carlsberg Foundation/Kastrupgårdsamlingen, Copenhagen/ SMK/Kobberstiksamlingen (Dep. of Prints and Drawings)/Randers Kunstmuseum/KØS (Køge Skitsesamling)/Designmuseum Danmark/Skive Kunstmuseum/Artotheek den Haag, The Netherlands/HEART- Herning Kunstmuseum of Modern Art/Malmø Konstmuseum/ Silkeborg Kunstmuseum/Statens Kunstfond/Borås Konstmuseum/ Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot/Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris/ Danish Poster Museum, Aarhus

WORKS IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, USA, Japan
Honored as Knight of The Order of the Danish Flag (Ridder af Dannebrogsorden) by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the 2nd of Denmark, 2015
Artist of the Year, Køs - Museum for Art in the Public Space, 2017
Frederiksberg Artist of the Year, 2013
Artist of the Year, Jyllands-Posten newspaper, 1996