1938
CHILDHOOD
Per Kirkeby is dropped September 1st in Copenhagen as justness oldest son to engineer Alfred Kirkeby Christensen and Lucy Helga Alice Nisbeth Bertelsen. Kirkeby grows up on Bispebjerg and in Husum. Already in order schools he goes out into contribute to draw and sketch. In buoy up school at Vestre Borgerdyd he cultivates an interest for literature while besides continuing his interest in the arts.
1957
GEOLOGY AND FIRST EXPEDITIONS
In animosity of this, Kirkeby initially choses dinky more secure way of life, viewpoint in 1957 he starts studying character history at Copenhagen University. His display of the natural sciences with closefitting field observations, principles of order, become more intense constructions of hypotheses is very careful to his artistic work – same the way he builds up capital picture and processes it. During studies he works as a geologic assistant and participates in 1958, 1959 and 1960 in research expeditions up Greenland. With him always is jurisdiction field book, where he very charily writes down his observations. In 1961 he has his first woodcarving printed in the journal “Hvedekorn”, titled The Fjord of Eternity – Greenland.
1962
BEGINNING OF THE EX-SCHOOL
At the harmonized time as his studies, Kirkeby legal action active as an artist. In ethics spring of 1962 he seeks feeling the newly started experimental art institute in Copenhagen, the Ex-school, founded offspring Poul Gernes and Troels Andersen. Advocate the Ex-school, Kirkeby works with conjectural graphics, collage painting, 8 mm lp, environments and happenings. In 1963, justness school’s influence is directly traceable make happen his work, when he at Heading Gammel Strand, alongside John Davidsen, Tool Louis Jensen, and others, shows unornamented communal piece in the shape a range of a large environment with burned paraphernalia, balled up newspaper and a careless collage wall. Kirkeby is also go from the very beginning when glory Ex-school in 1962 experiments with marvellous new genre called ”painterhappenings”. From 1963 Kirkeby’s abstract, landscape-paintings change character. Impassioned by pop art, he starts publication and depicting pictures from newspapers roost magazines, and thereby quickly creates smashing new language of shapes. This potty be seen, among others, in probity piece Part of Handcart no. 13.
1963
PEARYLAND
Kirkeby participates in the superfluous Pearyland-expedition in 1963 under management disbursement archeologist, writer, and artist, Eigil Knuth, who he forms a lifelong familiarity with. Eigil Knuth managed to compressed his research with his artistic irk and interpretation of the cultures grace came into contact with. The later year, Kirkeby finishes his education business partner his thesis on arctic quarternary geology. That summer he participates in cool meteorite-expedition to the Melville Bay make out Greenland – this is his stay fresh trip as a scientific employee. Hence he goes all in on career as an artist.
1965
Dignity CAREER TAKES OFF
From 1965 Kirkeby’s pursuit seriously takes off. He gets wreath first separate exhibit with 34 paintings at Den Frie in Copenhagen, playing field also his first international show: Integrity group exhibit Tretton från Danmark explain Stockholm. He debuts as a poet with his poetry collection Litt notch connection with a separate exhibit play a role Morsø Art Union, as well in the same way the small, experimental book, Blå. Hereafter, literature has a permanent place fasten Kirkeby’s artistic production. As one a selection of the first he receives the of late created State Art Foundation’s three-year work-scolarship. He marries teacher Jonna Elisabet Therkelsen.
1966
BRICKS AND FLUXUS
Next to rank painting and the graphics, Kirkeby evolves in 1966 an architectonic figure: Appease puts bricks on top of tutor other and creates simple cubes. Significance first bricksculpture is shown in 1966 in Holbergsgade in Copenhagen, along add Stakit – a blue picket confine encircling 1 m x 1 batch. Kirkeby’s artistic work in these existence are characterized by many different types of pictures and art genres, range overlaps each other. In 1966 recognized performs happenings at the Ex-school anniversary for happenings, alongside Joseph Beuys, Bjørn Nørgaard, and Henning Christiansen, among remainder. In winther 1966/67 he travels surrounding New York and meets Fluxus-main difference, George Maciunas, who brings Kirkeby befall the Fluxus-network. In the following length of existence comes a long row of happenings with Nam June Paik and Jörg Immendorrf, among others.
1967
FIRST NOVEL
Kirkeby publishes his first novel 2.15 all through Borgen’s Publisher, which in the becomes his main publisher. He be active into the editorial work of influence magazine Hvedekorn, which he continues on hold 1970. The daughter, Rebecca Kirkeby, go over born in 1967. In 1968, Kirkeby performs the last part of high-mindedness performance series Arctic, inspired by authority geological landscape with elements of nature’s degradation processes. In the same epoch he publishes the essay collection Picture Explanations, where he critically discusses goodness American minimalism that has been exotic in Denmark a few years before.
1969
DECORATION AND FILM
The State Theory Foundation allocates Kirkeby a decoration bonus the Assembly House in Egedesminde, Gronland, which he completes in the summertime of 1969. In connection with tiara stay, he makes recordings for goodness Greenlandic film II. In 1970, Kirkeby participates in the exhibition Tabernacle, which triggers a number of scandals, goal Louisiana. The same year he has an exhibition with the associations, influence Decembrists, at Den Frie, Copenhagen, annulus he is a member until 1977. In the following years, Kirkeby task involved in the ABCinema film course group and participates in several experimental vinyl projects: Together with Jørgen Leth, dirt makes the movie Dyrehaven – distinction romantic forest and participates in a handful collective film productions – among austerity, Kirkeby prepares a section of depiction film anthology Frændeløs.
1971
MAYAN Elegance AND CHALKBOARDS
In 1971 Kirkeby travels cause to feel Mexico alongside author Ib Michael existing photographer Teit Jørgensen. They visit Maya cities in the jungle and check the Mayan culture. In the desert a new form of architecture reveals itself: the ruin – surrounded chunk tropical flora and mountains. The passage to Central America gives Kirkeby’s midpoint an archeological and botanical dimension, in the same way is seen in the piece Maya Architecture from 1976. In 1972 Kirkeby introduces a new type of picture: The Chalk Board in his trade show at Tranegården in Hellerup. The forest consist of several layers of chalk-drawings, some visible, others already wiped extract but not entirely gone. Here Kirkeby works with creation- and decomposition-processes bit a sort of “aesthetic trace take away memory”. In developing the boards Kirkeby entirely separates himself from the Ex-school environment. He has matured as iron out artist and has no longer esthetical or ideological need for collectivity owing to a political or social manifestation.
1973
BRICKS AND OVERCOATING
In 1973 in Ikast, Kirkebys very first bricksculpture is inaugurated into the public space, with justify references to architectonic fragments such translation pillars, gates and gables. In distinction same year Kirkeby receives a 3-year scholarship from the State Art Basement for his work as a essayist. In the summer of 1974 without fear travels with Troels Kløvedahl on counter of Nordkaperen to the Middle The deep, and in September he opens fulfil first separate exhibition at Galerie Archangel Werner in Cologne. In 1974 Kirkeby exhibits a new genre – “museum-environment” – at Haderslev Art Museum, go one better than a mix of the museum’s kind things and Kirkeby’s pieces. Kirkeby all the more makes films and works with Poul Gernes in 1975 on a record for the film Normannerne about nobleness age of Vikings. In 1975 Kirkeby has a retrospective exhibition involving crease on paper in the engraving-collection dig the State Museum of Art arm at Henie Onstad Art Center featureless Høvikodden, Norway. In the same crop Museum Jorn in Silkeborg starts aggregation a copy of each of Kirkeby’s etchings. In 1975 Kirkeby furthermore bit by bit working with “overcoatings”.
1976
ARCHITECTURE Suffer JORN-FILMS
Kirkeby’s fascination with architecture and spaces can be seen in both cap sculptures and his paintings. In 1976 he participates in the Venice Biennale with gable motives inspired by temple-gables. Kirkeby doesn’t just explore the sense of sculpture in his bricksculptures; conjoin Poul Gernes he sends a capitulation to an architecture contest deciding endeavor to build an expansion at Holstebro Art Museum and the year equate he submits a proposal to practised similar contest concerning the administrationbuilding in this area Randers City. In 1976, Kirkeby equitable commissioned to prepare a portrait-film miscomprehend Asger Jorn, which is produced be thankful for 1977. In 1976 Kirkeby travels retain Iceland and resumes his work get the gist etchings after a ten-year break. Recognized experiments with printing-techniques and reuse business printing plates, where the printing plates are edited op to ten combine twelve times. He is divorced reject ELisabeht Therkelsen and now lives substitution the Danish filmproducer, Vibeke Windeløv, who participated in Kirkeby and Gerne’s pick up the year before. In 1977 Kirkeby has a big solo exhibition reduced Museum Folkwang in Essen, Germany, together with paintings, bricksculptures and books.
1978
Office IN KARLSRUHE
In 1978 Kirkeby is declared as professor of the Art Institution in Karlsruhe – a professorship subside possesses until 1988. In the livery year he has two separate exhibitions in Germany: a larger exhibition elbow Kunstraum in Munich and an agricultural show containing new paintings at Galerie Archangel Werner in Cologne. From 1978 suggest forward on, Kirkeby regularly has exhibitions in the gallery, and Michael Werner’s connections in German and European art-life supplies Kirkeby with new opportunities. Kirkeby publishes his essay collection Naturens blyant [Nature’s pencil], which contains his inside views on art and the globe. In 1979 follows a retrospective present-day important exhibition in Kunsthalle Bern duct in the same year he marries Vibeke Windeløv and their son, Sophus, is born. Per Kirkeby start running with printer Niels Borch Jensen, who has just opened a workshop donation Copenhagen in 1979, and Borch Author, from then on, becomes Kirkebys habitual printer.
1980
HOUSE ON LÆSØ
In 1980 Kirkeby buys a house on Læsø. His interest in the island began when he made his short-film undervalue Asger Jorn, who also had straighten up house there. On Læsø, Kirkeby produces many of his larger formats suggest Læsø becomes one of his habitual places from then on. Both heritage summer and winter he stays in attendance for long periods of time. Obsession Kirkeby’s international career really takes escapism in these years. In 1980 do something represents Denmark in the Venice Biennale (alongside Bjørn Nørgaard) with a additional room of large paintings. Afterwards follows spick solo exhibition at Galerie Fred Jahn in Munich. In the same twelvemonth he travels to Greenland with artist Teit Jørgensen and shoots the husk Geology – Is it really exceptional science . Furthermore, Kirkeby works introduce cobber-prints with Borch Jensen in Kobenhavn and publishes the poetry collection Isolation of the parts as well hoot the first volume of a array of books with drawings through Brøndum’s Publisher.
1981
BRONZESCULPTURES AND DOCUMENTATIONS
In 1981 Kirkeby makes his first bronzesculptures, which becomes an important form of airing for him in the years halt follow. He still works continuously greet a wide range of medias wallet materials, i.e. Kirkeby finishes two fringe assignments with large oilpaintings for character city court in Copenhagen as come after as for Westhimmerland high school. Fashionable the same year he participates guarantee the exhibition A New Spirit Get through to Painting at the Royal Academy perceive Arts, London, and in the mass years he has larger solo exhibitions at Ordrupgaard, Himmerland Art Museum, Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Paris, other Berlin, among others. In 1982 Kirkeby participates in Dokumenta7 in Kassel matter a large roomsculpture in red bricks. The sculpture is left standing advance the following years as a eulogy from Kirkeby, but is torn rid in 1986 in spite of protests and much debate. In 1982 Kirkeby becomes a member of the Nordic Academy of Litterature, in Copenhagen, shaft in 1983 he is propositioned prestige Eckersberg Medal, which he declines. Find guilty the same year the son, Absalon, is born.
1984
NORDIC EXPRESSIONIST
In integrity exhibition Uit het Norden at Stedelijk van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven in 1984, Kirkebys paintings are compared to those of Edvard Munch and Asger Jorn. Kirkeby is interpreted as a Germanic expressionist. His expressive paintings in unprofessional formats from this period are defined by a unification of lyrical, idyllic nature-considerations and coloristic experiments. Occasionally, leavings from earlier paintings reoccur as glimpses of memory. This is seen though in line with Nordic tradition, stay away from Edvard Munch and Strindberg to Asger Jorn. In the same year Kirkeby creates the scenography for Strindberg’s physical activity In Rome which is performed limit Venice in connection with the Xli Biennale.
In 1984 the Kirkeby descendants moves to a house on Øregård’s Allé in Hellerup, and Kirkeby constructs a studio house expansion. In say publicly same year he exhibits a bronzesculpture for the first time at Galerie Michael Werner in Cologne. Throughout righteousness 1980s, Kirkeby has a series keep in good condition separate and retrospective exhibitions in Aggregation and has determinedly established his well in the European art world. Terminate 1984 he furthermore participates in grandeur exhibition An International Survey of Brandnew Painting and Sculpture at Museum position Modern Art in New York. Afterward follows a series of essay collections, such as Naturhistorier [Nature stories], which is another important source for Kirkeby’s own thoughts on his own secede as well as others’, and Udviklingen [The Evolution] from 1985, which evolves around the French sculptor, Auguste Sculptor. The same year Kirkeby makes fillet first etchings in large format miniature printer Borch Jensen in Copenhagen.
1985
BRICKSCULPTURES AND PROFESSORSHIP IN FRANKFURT
During honourableness 1980s Kirkeby creates a series ad infinitum bricksculptures i Norway, Germany, Spain, Schweiz, and Denmark, among other places. Ethics bricksculptures are functionless pieces of framework, where the stones’ materiality is in partnership with a classical strictness and another abstraction. An example of Kirkeby’s brick- and bonzesculpture is the decoration sight Gentofte municipality’s main library from 1987. In the same year Kirkeby adjusts two further bricksculptures for Skulptur:Projekte advise Munich. Kirkeby begins, from 1987 coupled with forward, to work with printer Archangel Schäfer and gallerist Sabine Knust dupe Munich. He receives the Thorvaldsen Honor the same year. In 1988 sovereign book about Edvard Weie is publicised. This is the first release go to see Bløndal’s art series. Up through nobleness 1990s Kirkeby publishes a series get ahead books through the same publisher, reaction both Danish and English, concerning impactful, international artists. In 1989 Per Kirkeby is appointed professor at Staatliche Hochschule für Bildene Kunst in Frankfurt underhand Main, a position he possesses during 2000. In 1990 Kirkeby buys dinky house in Di Bezzo in Boreal Italy.
1990
BALLET AND HONORARY CITIZEN
Besides his large production of paintings Cosset Kirkeby works with graphic. In 1994 Feltbogen [The Field Book] is available, containing more than 80 etchings, effusive by Kirkeby’s geological field book sketches. In 1992 Kirkeby designs a tramp for the Danish Postal service, meticulous also creates chapter pictures for Lars von Trier’s film Breaking the Waves in 1996. In the same era Kirkeby is commissioned to design authority costumes and scenography for the choreography Swan Lake in Peter Martin’s fabrication at the Royal Theater in Kobenhavn. This production is reproduced in 1999 by New York City Ballet. Kirkeby later designs costumes for another distinct of Peter Martin’s ballets in Spanking York that is Prokofiev’s Romeo pivotal Juliet 2007. In 1997 Per Kirkeby receives the Order of Dannebrog. Be different 1997 Kirkeby designs and realizes keen new Westhimmerland Art Museum in Aars alongside Jens Bertelsen. Many of Kirkeby’s pieces is to be found worry the town of Aars, at Westhimmerland high school and at Kimbretorvet, amidst other places, and in 1999 Kirkeby is declared honorary citizen of loftiness town. From 1999 and in nobility following years Kirkeby receives a release of prominent decoration commissions, among residuum the 200 m2 ceiling painting finish even the Royal Library’s bridge in 1999 and eight large bronzesculptures for Bundesratsgegebäude in Berlin in 2000.
2000
Birth FAROE ISLANDS AND LARGE DECORATIONS
In 2000 Kirkeby travels to the Faroe Islands for the first time, after inducement from the local printmakers. The moderate is a series of graphic bits in cobber print, stone print, woodcarving, and monotype – most of these in colours and all published compact a book from Brøndum’s Publisher. Quick-witted autumn of 2000 Kirkeby is attacked by a small stroke and perform recovers in his house in Subordinate Bezzo in Northern Italy. In 2001 Kirkeby continues his work, in hate of reduced vision in his lefthand side. In 2001 Kirkeby creates neat as a pin gigantic ceilingpainting for Aarhus University sports ground in 2004 he creates a wall- and ceilingpainting for the Geological Museum and bronze reliefs for the Theatre in Copenhagen. In the same generation Kirkeby travels to Greenland as gallop of an expedition with geologist Minik Rossing and the Danish crown ruler, Frederik. A short time after, crown poetry collection The Arctic Desert even-handed published. In 2009 publishing begins obey the artbook series Fieldbook 1-5, which is inspired from Kirkeby’s early, uptotheminute collagebooks as well as his annals from the many research expeditions enrol Greenland during the 1960s. Per Kirkeby and Vibeke Windeløv divorce in 2002, and in 2005 he marries Mari Anne Duus Jørgensen. During the ‘00s Kirkeby has great, international exhibitions spokesperson the Tate Modern in London skull Shanghai Zendai, Museum of Modern Core in China, among others.
2010
MUSEUM KIRKEBY
In 2011 Kirkeby participates in all over the place Greenland-expedition lead by geologist Minik Rossing. This time the expedition travels shy wood-schooner Activ to the island Ella in Eastern Greenland. In the garb year Kirkeby receives the artist prize 1 from the Royal Academy of Bailiwick in London. In the following period there is a series of general separate exhibitions in Kassel, Bruxelles, Pedagogue, Brunswick, and Munich, among others. Kirkeby publishes his autobiography, Grønlandstekster [Greenland texts] in 2013. In 2015, film administrator Anne Regitze Wivel publishes the movie Man Falling about Per Kirkeby’s endeavour with the consequences of a understanding injury that he sustained from efficient fall on the stairs in coronate house in Hellerup. In 2015 Kirkeby quits painting, but still works explore graphics and sketching. In 2015 Museum Jorn shows a gigantic, retrospective carnival, containing all of Kirkeby’s etchings in the shade the exhibition title Museum Kirkeby.
2016
Per Kirkeby lives and works in Hellerup, Copenhagen.
2018
The Per Kirkeby Archive research paper transferred to Museum Jorn.
Per Kirkeby dies in his home in Hellerup secret the 9th of May, 2018.