Bjarne Melgaard/Rod Bianco "Super Normal"

Opening Friday 18 June, from 6 pm onwards

‘Fiction interests me much more than real life. I always prefer when somebody’s telling me an interesting lie rather than a boring truth.’
Bjarne Melgaard

This summer, de Appel presents a Solo Project by the Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard (1967), a show with its artistic starting point located in the mental world of Rod Bianco*. Melgaard is one of the most chameleonic figures in contemporary art. His work evolves and mutates at breakneck speed owing to his continual introduction of new themes, ideas and semi-imaginary characters such as Bernard St. Summiere, Mr. Black Pearl, Rummelsnuff, Joey Stefano, Frost and Les Super. Bianco is the latest protagonist; he is neither an alter ego nor an avatar of the artist, but a fictional personality who may simultaneously be regarded as a ‘production unit’. The entirety of work and activities that develops under his auspices is legible as a multilayered visual novel. Melgaard reveals himself in this respect as a gifted storyteller who constructs a narrative microcosm by means of visual and textual indications.

Melgaard’s fascination with sometimes provocative subcultures and practices has previously induced him to explore the worlds of Black Metal, violent homosexuality and sadomasochism. Now too he remains partial to the ‘unusual’; no reputation is spared and no taboo eschewed. Besides a series of sculptures, the exhibition includes a new series of photorealistic paintings which are overpainted with Melgaard’s hallmark expressionistic iconography and vigorous linear gestures.

The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication the book "Rod Bianco", a compilation of memorabilia surrounding Rod Bianco, including diary entries from the South Pacific and snapshots from Barcelona; paintings by Bjarne Melgaard and others; hypnotized chihuahuas and Fiorucci girls; and a new essay by Ann Demeester. Bookorders via bookshop [​at​] deappel.nl.

*Footnote: Rod Bianco (www.rodbianco.com) is also the name of a recently opened gallery in Oslo, which organizes exhibitions with artists from Scandinavia, the USA and elsewhere. Melgaard is responsible for the visual profile of the gallery and its programme of exhibitions. Besides Rod Bianco, he has established the affiliate Big Fat Black Cock Inc. (http://bfbci.com/).

Events in the context of the exhibition:
Sun. 11 July, Sat. 4 Sept. at 3 pm
Free guided tours of the exhibition
Sun. 5 September: Finissage:
Sunday School (in the Dutch language), 4 pm: one work of the exhibition becomes subject of close reading by Edwin Becker, head of exhibitions at Van Gogh Museum.

5 pm: presentation of the latest F.R. David, the "With Love," issue.

Reservations via reservation [​at​] deappel.nl.