Days of Heaven – Presented by Anne Herrero & Carl Dobsky

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
                                                                                               

– The American Declaration of Independence, 1776

Anne Herrero and Carl Dobsky both studied at the New York Academy of Art and work with a classical painting technique that shows just how skilled they are. Dobsky’s style is strongly influenced by traditional classical painting, but the way he mixes in modern elements gives his work a neo-classical feel. Herrero’s paintings have a baroque softness to them, often creating a dreamy, thoughtful mood.

In the exhibition Days of Heaven at Gallery Poulsen, the two artists present different perspectives on what the search for paradise might look like – and how that pursuit can affect us.

Days of Heaven takes its starting point from the 1978 film of the same name, which tells the story of settlers chasing the dream of a better life. The idea of the settler spirit and the longing for something more is a recurring theme in both artists’ work.

Carl Dobsky states:
“One could say that it’s simply in our blood to seek out new lands, and that our species has done this since we left the cradle of our African homeland some 70,000 to 100,000 years ago.”

The settler spirit is something we all possess – it’s part of our DNA, because ultimately, it’s about survival. For generations, humans have been migrating in search of a better life – in search of Arcadia. Arcadia is the Latin term for paradise or utopia. But what is Arcadia, really? Isn’t it a fantasy to believe that Arcadia exists?

Herrero’s recent works feature the same woman, a figure who merges with the flat, harsh landscape of Missouri. She turns her back on modern society to find happiness in nature – as early humans did hundreds of years ago. Her primal actions can be seen as an attempt to stop evolution and rewind time – something that is, in reality, a utopian idea.

Dobsky’s new paintings, shown in Days of Heaven, focus on the tension between the ideal and the perfect on one side, which the exhibition title refers to, and the imperfect or unwanted consequences that arise in the pursuit of perfection on the other side. He is deeply interested in the idea of utopia. These are the first works in which he explores that theme.

Anne Herrero and Carl Dobsky both reflect on humanity’s role in nature and society, and the balance between the ideal and its opposite. Are the consequences of striving for perfection too great? And how does the society we’ve built in pursuit of it actually affect our lives? Is society a prison – or a liberation?

The exhibition presents 9 new oil paintings.
Both artists will be present at the opening, where they will give an artist talk.

Opening reception: Friday, June 6th, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Gallery Poulsen, Staldgade 32, Copenhagen

For more information, contact the gallery at [email protected] or call +45 33 33 93 96.