Club Tropicana – New Art From New York and Other Places, Part XVI 

“Club Tropicana, drinks are free
Fun and sunshine – there’s enough for everyone
All that’s missing is the sea
But don’t worry – you can suntan”

– George Michael, 1983

Gallery Poulsen’s annual Summer Show is coming up, and we couldn’t be more proud and happy with the overwhelmingly impressive paintings we have on display this year.

As tradition dictates, we have chosen a show title with roots in pop culture. This year, it is Wham’s iconic Club Tropicana from 1983 that sets the frame. Not as a theme, but as a cultural signal – a symbol of what we are longing for, and at the same time a subtle nod to the unease of our times – because everything is not the way it should be. The fact that we have chosen a British pop song for this year’s show title can be seen as a comment on a changing world in itself.

Club Tropicana – New Art From New York and Other Places, Part XVI presents new works from more than 20 artists from all over the world. They are part of Gallery Poulsen’s strong international network and represent a wide spectrum of figurative contemporary art, which we at Gallery Poulsen have been key ambassadors for, for more than two decades. The artists have not been asked to relate to the glamorous show title – on the contrary, they have been invited to follow their own voices and let their own stories unfold.

Drawing inspiration from a pop song that both celebrates and satirizes the surface of the party, we invite you to an exhibition where the glamour of the glossy image reveals deeper layers. Because art does not turn a blind eye to the outside world. It is just the opposite. It is between light and darkness, between escapism and confrontation, that art becomes relevant – and necessary.

The result is a diverse, thought-provoking, and strongly visual exhibition, where humour, sharpness, social reflection, and striking visuals go hand in hand. There is room for the personal, the political, the sensual and the satirical, the playful and the intimate.

In a time of complexity and crisis, it is valuable to create a space where seriousness and ease can coexist. At Gallery Poulsen, we believe that art can entail it all – both the challenging aspects and the hopeful ones. We believe that meaningful things can be created, even when the drinks are free.

See you at Club Tropicana – the highlight of the year at Gallery Poulsen.

Opening Saturday August 16th 12:00-16:00

Gallery Poulsen, Staldgade 32, Copenhagen
For more info, please contact the gallery at [email protected] or on tel. + 45 33 33 93 96

Works