Niels Pugholm’s solo exhibition at Møstings unfolds a dramaturgy over the cycle of the doom myth. Based on relief sketches, antique columns, classical vases, Pugholm’s own ceramic experiments and Møsting’s neoclassical style, the exhibition “Yet Another Doom” becomes a type of scenography in which the audience moves through the different stages of the doom narrative.
All across varying time periods and cultures, the stylistic form of the doom narrative is typically the same. The contours of the doom’s anatomy can be traced in both small scale personal developments and big scale systems of world religions. In any case, something existing must be challenged by chaos, which then leads to a destruction, from where something new can flourish and consolidate, for instance as a new personal habit, a relationship, a political discourse, or a new mythological era, until the new reality necessarily must be challenged by a new chaos.
In the exhibition “Yet Another Doom”, the audience is led on a cyclical journey through each of the four stages of the doom myth: the existing, chaos, destruction, and the flourishing. Each space in the exhibition is centered around one of the stages and marks a shift in ambience and subject motif. One will encounter the Collums series; created from simple, individual jars, neatly stacked on top of each other with which they delicately rise as elegant columns in the space. One will also find pitch-black vases with engraved graphic drawings, on which the contours of divergent narratives can be read, an ornamented raku-fired relief, and clay in its pure form cut into seven wedged clay lumps.
In his artistic practice, Niels Pugholm (b. 1983) engages with the creation of narratives, in recent years mainly using ceramics as a medium. Using the story of all stories as a starting point, Pugholm explores questions of humankind’s role, power, and destiny in the eternal cycle of doom.
The exhibition is supported by Statens Kunstfond, Det Obelske Familiefond, and Arbejdernes Landsbank.
About Niels Pugholm
Niels Pugholm graduated from Det Fynske Kunstakademi in 2013 and lives and works in Denmark. Pugholm is represented at Wilson Saplana Gallery and has previously exhibited at Århus Kunsthal, Viborg Kunsthal, and Kunstforeningen Gl. Strand. He has been awarded a working grant from Statens Kunstfond several occasions and is represented in Skive Museum’s permanent collection.
Exhibition opening: Thursday April 4 2024 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
During this year’s Art Matter Festival, we have invited the authors Anders Abilgård, Signe Gjessing, Pernille Abd-El Dayem and Christian Dorph to engage in a dialogue with the exhibition’s many layers of narratives through readings of selected works. The event Words of Doom will take place on May 30 at 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Admission: DKK 75 incl. a glass of wine. Tickets can be purchased via Billetto.
