Information
Artist and year
Thomas Nyqvist, 1995–1996.
Collection
The State Art Deposit Collection
Technology, Materials and Size
Oil on canvas, 210 x 315 cm.
Description
Thomas Nyqvist (born 1955) is known for his large paintings depicting urban landscapes. His themes are representative of a sombre aesthetic of ruins that invites the viewer to explore and linger in the atmosphere of abandoned industrial sites and demolished buildings. The milieus are frequently depicted as shrouded in fog or the dim light of night.
Nyqvist’s first solo exhibition was held in Galleria Katariina in Helsinki in 1981.
During the period from 1992 to 1995, Nyqvist drew inspiration from the work by the 18th century Italian artist Alberto Battista Piranesi, in particular his black and white prints depicting the architecture of ancient Rome. In his paintings, Nyqvist reinterpreted Piranesi’s pessimistic visions of a city in ruins. Through selection and modification, he created his own versions of Piranesi’s prints.
The work Untitled from the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection belongs to Nyqvist’s Piranesi series. The large painting invites the viewer to ‘step into’ the landscape.
Nyqvist studied in the Free Art School in Helsinki in late 1970s, and his career in the arts spans five decades.
Gallery
