Thorbjørn Lausten’s work lies in continuation of the constructivist tradition and reflects an interest in mathematical principles and geometric shapes. The installations have a strong connection to the artist’s drawings, which typically consist of constructions realized in thee dimensions. His works are structured into simple systems, and like the Russian constructivists he often uses a pair of compasses and a ruler.
Data visualizations
To Lausten, art is not just about aesthetics; like science, it is a tool for understanding and developing knowledge about reality. Lausten was one of the first in Denmark to explore the field that lies at the intersection of scientific phenomena, art and technology through various types of data visualization. The scientific data are translated into paintings and light installations, which appear objective yet are carefully selected by the artist. In this process, Lausten plays with the notion of the objective versus the subjective and the issue of whether the two are really that far apart.
Aesthetic technology
QED focuses on the emergence of light. It draws us into a field where parallel luminous tubes are reflected in sheets of glass that also capture our own reflection. The piece has a minimalist appearance but on a large scale. The viewer enters into the installation, getting close to the immaterial light that is given form by the fluorescent tubes.
Dissipator 2 also incorporates light as a key component. Like other installations by the artist, Dissipator 2 makes abstract phenomena accessible to the viewer. The suffix ‘tor’ in the title suggests that the piece is in operation. This type of title is a recurring feature in Lausten’s work, suggesting to us that we should not perceive the pieces as inanimate objects but as living entities in time.
About Thorbjørn Lausten
Thorbjørn Lausten (b. 1945) lives and works on the Danish island of Falster. He describes his latest works as data visualizations representing scientific phenomena. The visualizations relate to our understanding of reality and the methods and systems underlying the way we grasp and construe it. Lausten is self-taught. He has held solo exhibitions in Denmark and abroad, including at SMK – the national gallery of Denmark, Arken Museum of Modern Art, ZKM Karlsruhe and Museum am Ostwall Dortmund, and has received many accolades, including the Eckersberg Medal and the grant Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Legat.
