Søren Behncke
Søren Behncke works with cardboard and objects found in the streets and transforms the lost and discarded from pop culture into paintings, sculptures and streetactions. In Denmark, Behncke is also known under the alias 'Papfar' due to the spectacular happenings and stagings of cardboard sculptures in the public space. Over the years Behncke has developed and refined his own vocabulary of shapes. He refers to this study and development of shapes as "shape rhymes" which makes up a distinct visual alphabet. A way of seeing and communicating the world beyond verbal or written language. Objects from other artists’ studios and paintings are appropriated - a door and a cloth from Van Gogh’s studio in Arles, a birdcage from Matisse in Nice, a pitcher and a stack of china from Le Corbusier’s studio kitchen, a lamp from Fernand Léger’s Académie Moderne in Paris, the wonderful outsider James Castle’s moldy old hat and a car from Claes Oldenburg. Stylistically the shape alphabet bears little resemblance to the artists that influenced it and still there is a strong element of lineage.
Søren Behncke born 1967 in Sønderborg, Denmark
Lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBTIONS
2021
Rainbow Mountain, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019
MashUp, Museum Jorn, Silkeborg, Denmark
Babuska, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
Albissola MashUp, Jorn House Museum, Albissola, Italy
2018
Alphabet, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
The White House, Brundlund Castle (Art Museum), Aabenraa, Denmark
2016
La Chambre, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2014
Floodlight, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Backdrop & Dropouts, Charlotte Fogh Galley, Aarhus, Denmark
2013
Stepmother Nature, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2011
Ferry Tails, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
2009
E45: Road Art, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
2008
Candle With Hare, ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Manhattan/Paris, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
Papstinenser, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
2006
Cartonero, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Hvor er Papfar? V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Plakatarkæologi, Turbinehallerne/ Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theatre), Copenhagen, Denmark
En Mega Kikser med Sofastykker og Handske, Fredes Flyvende Tallerken, Aarhus, Denmark
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBTIONS
2022
V1 XX - Twenty years of V1 Gallery, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Art Herning, V1 Gallery, Herning, DK
2020
Behncke – Heerup – Hildebrandt, Heerup Museum, Denmark
MINE IV, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Behncke – Heerup – Hildebrandt, Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum, Vendsyssel, Denmark
2019
MINE III, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Birds, CHART Art Fair with V1 Gallery, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
2018
MINE II, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Locker Room Summer Salon, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
VOLTA14, V1 Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
2017
Mine – Art, signed books, exhibition catalogues, artist books, collectibles, editions, posters, rarities, prints and free stuff, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jon, John, Søren & Richard, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Art Herning, V1 Gallery, Herning, Denmark
2016
VOLTA12, V1 Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
2015
Kunst i Sollys, ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark
ARK, Museum Jorn, Silkeborg, Denmark
2014
Swab Art Fair, Barcelona, Spain
Zimmer Frei, Museet på Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
Vejen, Nivågaards Malerisamling, Nivå, Denmark
2013
Nordic Art Station 2013, Eskilstuna Konstmuseum, Sverige
MUR HÆK HEGN, KØS Museum of art in public spaces, Køge, Denmark
Poul Pedersen 80 år, Galleri Specta, Copenhagen, Denmark
2012
VIX – Tonight We Won’t Be Bored – Ten Years of V1 Gallery, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen
Made in Paper, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Århus, Denmark
The Armory Show, V1 Gallery, NYC, USA
Humor, alvorligt talt, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark
P.P. & P, Det hemmelige galleri, Herning, Denmark
2011
Status- Somewhere Between Position and Condition, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Walk This Way, KØS – Museum of art in public spaces, Køge, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010
Art Copenhagen, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2009
Nephew – VideoVideo, Aros Aarhus Art Museum, Denmark
Streetart Inspiration, Vejle Art Museum, Denmark
Art Brussels, w/ V1 Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
Art Copenhagen, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Preview Berlin, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
Art Copenhagen, V1 Gallery & Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008
Icons For Now, Aarhus Kunstbygning, Aarhus, Denmark
People and Places, Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
Zoo Art Fair, V1 Gallery, London, UK
VOLTA SHOW03, V1 Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
Preview Berlin, V1 Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2007
Comix, Kunsthallen Brandts, Odense, Denmark
Match Race, Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum, Denmark
Sommerudstilling (Sommer Exhibtion), Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
Paper Trails – New Adventures In Drawing, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Kunst På Papir (Art On Paper), Møstings hus, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006
Charlotte Fogh Contemporary Åbningsudstilling (Opening Exhibition), Aarhus, Denmark
Kunst på Papir, (Art on Paper) Møstings hus, Copenhagen
DNA, Galerie Edition Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hit And Run, Aarhus, Denmark
Preview Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Art Copenhagen, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
15/1, Overgaden, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sommerudstilling (Summer exhibition), Turbinehallerne/ Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theatre), Copenhagen, Denmark
Kunstnernes Forårsudstilling (The Artist ́s Spring Exhibition), Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Rebound, Dunk, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
Debutantudstilling 2004, Silkeborg Bad, Silkeborg, Denmark
Summer Sucks – Art Rocks, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Spring, Århus Kunstbygning, Center for Contemporary Art, Aarhus, Denmark
2003
Kunstnernes Sommerudstilling, Janus Bygningen,Tistrup, Denmark
Kunstnernes Påskeudstilling, Århus Kunstbygning, Center for Contemporary Art, Denmark
Kunstnernes Forårsudstilling, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
POSEMAND (Bag Man) ACTIONS
2015
Kunst i Sollys, ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
2014
Bag weaving in relation to the exhibition “Vejen” at Nivaagaard, april
2013
Bag weaving (poseflet) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NYC, USA
Actions in relation to “Nordic Art Station 2013”, Eskilstune Kunstmuseum, Sverige
Actions in relation to “MUR HÆK HEGN, KØS, Køge, Denmark
2012
Manhattan actions, NYC March
2011
Actions in relation to the Ferry Tails exhibition, Sealand, Denmark
Actions in relation to the exhibition Walk This Way, KØS, Køge, Denmark
Pacman spøgelse, Århus, Denmark
EXIT, Århus, Denmark
PAPFAR (Cardboard Dad) ACTIONS
2011
Dykkermaske, Venedig, Italy
2009
E45 Road Art – aktionerne, juni/juli
2008
Paris Aktionerne (The Paris Actions), June
Manhattan Aktionerne (The Manhattan Actions), April/May
Sikkerhed Om Bord (Security On Board), Arken, Ishøj, Denmark, January
2007
Frisk Fra Fad, Aarhus, Denmark, October
Goofy Andersen, Odense, Denmark, September
Svanens Død (The Death of the Swan), Copenhagen, Denmark, April
Pizzaria TV, Hawaii Pizza, Aarhus, Denmark
2006
P2+ Live Action, Aahus, Denmark, June, 23
Homage to Nash, The Little Mermaid, February 6
2005
Glimmerhandsken (The Glimmer Glove), Østbane Torv, Aarhus, Denmark, May 20
2004
Boy versus Papfar, Aros, Aarhus, Denmark, June 26
Agnete & Sømanden (Agnete and the Sailor), Parkallé, Aarhus, Denmark, March 10
Happsy/Angry Face, Vesterbro Torv, Aarhus, Denmark, February
2003
Prøvekanin, Kloster Torv, Aahus, November 11
SELECTED ILLUSTRATIONS, CARTOONS AND LAYOUT FOR MAGAZINES
24TIMER, Berlingske Tidende, Aarhus Stiftstidende, GAFFA, Roskilde Festival
OTHER ACTIVITIES
2015
Udsmykning af VIA University College Campus Aarhus C, Denmark
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #12, Venedig, Italy
Politikens Grafiske Særtryk + exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #11, Warszawa, Poland
2014
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #10, Madeira
BEVI BEVI vin-etikette, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mural piece at Aarhus Business Academy, Aarhus, Denmark
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #09, Madrid, Spanien
Wiibroe (Carlsberg) Årgangsøl etiketten (2013)
2013
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #08, Helsinki, Finland
Copenhagen Jazz Festival-plakat, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #07, Cetona, Italy
2012
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #06, Paris, France
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #05, Reykjavik, Iceland
2011
Live-tegner på scenografien til Samuel Becketts Venter på Godot, Århus Teaters Store Scene, Aarhus, Denmark
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #04, Len Pin, France
The Mobile Printing Office Tour #03, Vienna, Austria
2010
Design af “Det blå stempel” en klip-ud-og fold-selv papskulptur til PASSEPARTOUT- Skrifter for kunsthistorie
2008-2009
Design af fold-selv kunst-rottefælde i pap for kunsttidskriftet ARK,
Århus Festuge plakat
Scenografi m.m. til forestillingen “Instrumentet” Limfjordsteatret,
Musikvideo for Nephew’s : Police bells & Church Sirens
Pap-intro/autro-jingle for Flemmings Helte, DR2, Denmark
2007
Sculpture performance at Aarhus Art Museum AROS, Denmark
2005
Program and poster for Turbinehallerne/The Royal Teater, Denmark
2004
Cover for Allan Olsens cd Gæst, Denmark
2003
Mens Underwear Collection for Missekat-Underwear (Pussycat-Underwear), Copenhagen, Denmark
REPRESENTED AT FOLLOWING PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Aros, Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus, Denmark
Vejle Art Museum, Vejle, Denmark
KØS – Museum of art in public spaces, Køge, Denmark
Statens Kunstfond
Århus Kommune
Aabenraa Kommune
GRANTS
2013
Beckett-Fonden
Statens Kunstråds Billedkunstudvalg (The Art Council)
2012
JP Fondens Legatbolig Berlin
2011
Silkeborg Kunstnerlegat
2010
Kunstrådets Billedkunstudvalg
2009
Statens Kunstfonds arbejdslegat
2008
Kulturudviklingspuljen (The Pool of Culture Development), Aarhus, Denmark
2007
Kunstrådets Billedkunstudvalg (The Art Council ́s Visual Art Committee)
Jens Ejner og Johanne Larsens Foundation – Travel Grant
Billedkunstudvalget (The Art Council), Aarhus, Denmark
2005
Kunstrådets Billedkunstudvalg (The Art Council ́s Visual Art Committee)
Member of the Art Society ́s Sculptor Section through 2020
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