Nicolai Howalt

Overview

Born 1970 in Copenhagen.
Lives and works in Copenhagen.

Nicolai Howalt is a Danish artist, whose photographic work spans across documentary, conceptual and installation art, but with a prevalent interest in duality, connections and relationships as well as complex existential questions. In his investigation of these questions, Howalt uses a photographic process through which the concrete method often results in abstract answers. What is studied is both tangible and earthbound, but transcends through the questions that are raised.

In the series Old Tjikko, Howalt sets out to document what is believed to be the world’s oldest tree, Old Tjikko in Dalarna, Sweden. Afterwards, the single negative from his journey was exposed to more than 90 different types of analogue photo paper, which Howalt had collected, in order to explore the paper’s relation to both the photograph and time itself, making the series both a technical and philosophical study. Nicolai Howalt’s work is often characterized by the absence of a decisive moment, focusing instead on both the anticipation and the aftermath of a situation. Therefore, the works of Nicolai Howalt do not present answers, but open themselves up to more complex questions.

Nicolai Howalt is the recipient of honorary grants from a number of benefactors and institutions, such as The Hasselblad Foundation, The Danish Ministry of Culture, The Danish Arts Foundation and The Danish Arts Council. His work has been exhibited at a number of prominent institutions both in Denmark and abroad, most notably with solo exhibitions at ARoS – Aarhus Art Museum, Nikolaj Kunsthal, the Centre for Photography in Stockholm, among others, along with presentations of his work in galleries in China, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Korea, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and USA.

Selected Works

Biography / CV

Born in 1970 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.

EDUCATION

1990-92 – Danmarks Fotografiske Billedkunstskole – Fatamorgana, Copenhagen, Denmark

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

A Journey: The Near Future, Tycho Brahe Planetarium, Denmark

Boxes and Paper, Ex Nihilo, Copenhagen, Denmark

2023

F.U.N.G.I. Umbrella West Coast Exhibition, Nørre Nebel, Denmark

2022

A Journey: The Near Future, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2021

Capturing Epidemics, The Medical Museion, Copenhagen, Denmark

2020

Variations of Old Tjikko, Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, Denmark

Variations of Old Tjikko, Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, Denmark

Old Tjikko, KIÁLLÍTÁS A BUDAPEST PARKBAN, Budapest Park, Hungary

2019

Silver Migration & Porcelain Sea, Carlsberg Byens Galleri & Kunstsalon, Copenhagen Photo Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark

2018

An Ode to Pareidolia, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2017

By looking up I see downward – By looking down I see upward, Bornholms Kunstmuseum, Gudhjem, Denmark

2016

Element Clash, Kunsthal Viborg, Viborg, Denmark.

2015

Light Break – Photography / Light Therapy, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2014

Light Break, Medicinsk Museion, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013

Light Break, Gallery Edel Assanti, London, United Kingdom

5 x Solo, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark

2012

Landscapes, Maison du Danemark, Paris, France

2011

Endings, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Sammenstød, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark

2009

Car Crash Studies, Bruce Silverstein Gallery. September 09, New York, United States

Car Crash Studies, Martin Asbæk Gallery. Copenhagen, Denmark

2006

Galerie Poller NY, November, New York City, United States

2005

Nordic House, Kracow, Poland

2004

Kaunas photo, October, Kaunas, Lithuania

Boxer, Aarhus Kunstbygning, Aarhus, Denmark

Gallerie Schüster, Frankfurt, Germany

Vendsyssel Art Museum, Vendsyssel, Denmark

2003

Galerie Asbæk, Copenhagen, Denmark

2001

Galerie Asbæk, Copenhagen, Denmark

Center for Photography, Stockholm, Sweden

1997

Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS

2024

Summer in the City, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Épreuves de la matière, BnF, Site Richelieu, France

Truly Wild, Fuglsang Kunstmuseum, Faaborg, Denmark

Grønningen, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark

2023

Disappearances, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

Summer in the City, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

All the Whisperings…, 2023, Fotografihuset, Norway

2022

In the shadow of trees, HANGAR, Brussels, Belgium

Snowflakes And Other Surprises, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

Athens Photo Festival 2022, Athens, Greece

Bornholm Painters – There and Back, Bornholms Kunstmuseum, Gudhjem, Denmark

2021

Art of Sport, Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark

I Virkeligheden, Photographical Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

2020

GRØNNINGEN, Den Frie – Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark

SYNLIGGØRELSER, Den Frie – Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark

Summer in the City, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

You are in my Wave II, Apartment of art, Munich, Germany

2019

Back to the Future. The 19th century in the 21st century, Mai Manor, Budapest, Hungary

Grønningen, Kunstforeningen Gl. Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark

MIGRATION, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France

2018

Back to the Future. The 19th century in the 21st century, C/O Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Back to the Future. The 19th century in the 21st century, FOAM, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Spejlinger, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark

Hvad kameraet så, Brandts, Odense, Denmark

Tarv, Carlsberg Byens Galleri & Kunstsalon, Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark

Selvspejlinger II, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark

Summer in the City, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Art on Paper, Bornholms Kunstmuseum, Gudhjem, Denmark

2017

Room vs Wall (with Esben Klemann) Maria Lund Gallerie, Paris, France

Cool, calm and collected, ARoS, Aarhus, Denmark.

GRO, Huset i Asnæs, Asnæs, Denmark

2016

The Limits of Control, curated by Ilari Laamanen, The Station Project, New York City, United States (catalogue)

Who Shot Sports, Brooklyn Museum, New York City, United States (catalogue)

Heliotropes, Geary Contemporary, New York City, United States

2015

Summer in the City x, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Wilderness, New Shelter Plan, Carlsberg district, Copenhagen, Denmark

Det Kameraløse Fotografi, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

100 år med Grønningen, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen, Denmark

Here Comes The Sun, Galerie Maria Lund, Paris, France

2014

Kunsten visits BRANDTS, BRANDTS, Odense, Denmark

Summer in the City, Martin Asbæk Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013

Zeigen. an audio tour through, Copenhagen, Nikolaj Kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark

Masculine, Capricious 88, New York City, United States

2012

The Chosen Ones, Kunsten, Aalborg Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark (catalogue)

Grønningen ®C at the Dock, Copenhagen, Denmark

2011

Places, HEART – Herning Artmuseum, Herning, Denmark

2010

Denmark In Transition, Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark (catalogue)

Grønningen på Docken, Copenhagen, Denmark (catalogue)

Danmark under forvandling, Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark (catalogue)

Grønningen på Docke, Copenhagen, Denmark (catalogue)

Danmark under forvandling, Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark (catalogue)

2009

Kontrapunkt, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark

In Between, Künstlerverein Walkmühle, Wiesbaden, Germany

Blomsten & Bien, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark

Altid som aldrig før, Skagen Museum, Skagen, Denmark (catalogue)

2008

Collisions, Maison du Danemark, Paris, France

2007

Reality Crossings, 2. Fotofestival Kunsthalle Mannheim. Germany (catalogue)

New Photography from Denmark, Foto Fest, Houston, United States

2006

Scandinavian Photo II: Denmark, Foto Fest, Houston, United States (catalogue)

Teen Beat, the Society for Contemporary Photography, Kansas, United States

Another Adventures, with TS. Style Cube Zandari, Seoul, Korea (catalogue)

The Open Book, The National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark (catalogue)

2005

Spells of Childhood, Tampere Art Museum, Tampere, Finland (catalogue)

New Photography from Denmark, Faulkner Gallery, Iowa, United States

2004

Distance, April, Institute of Contemporary Art, Dunaujvaros, Hungary

Hereford Photography Festival 2004, Hereford, United Kingdom (catalogue)

Don’t mention it, The National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark

Something different, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

2003

Boxer, Fototriennalen, Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark

3×1, Ifsak, Istanbul, Tyrkey

2002

Home Sweet Home, Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus, Denmark (catalogue)

2001

Neverending Story, public spaces in Vesterbro, Copenhagen, Denmark

1999

From the Hidden, The National Museum of Photography, Copenhagen, Denmark

1998

Meanwhile, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark (catalogue)

1000 year, Museum for Modern Art, Roskilde, Denmark

1995

Efterårsudstillingen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark (catalogue)

SOLO SHOS / HOWALT & SØNDERGAARD

2013

Bruce Silverstein, New York City, United States

Birds ®C Trees and Hunting Scenes, Kunsthal NORD, Aalborg, Denmark

2011

Scandinavian Forest, Akershus Artcenter, Lillestrøm, Norway

2010

How to Hunt, ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, Denmark

Vrå Udstillingen, Vrå, Denmark

2008

Musée Historique et des Porcelaines, Ville de Nyon, France

 

COLLECTIONS

Art Foundation Mallorca, Spain. ARoS, Aarhus Arm Museum, Denmark. Artphilein Foundation, Italy. Bornholms Artmuseum, Denmark. Esbjerg Art Museum, Denmark. Fondation Neuflize Vie, Paris, France. Hiscox Art Project, US. La Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain. Kunsten, Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Denmark. Maison Europeenne de Photographie, Paris, France. MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León. Spain. Museum of Fine Art Houston, Texas, US.Ny Carlsberg Fondet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Ny Kredit, Copenhagen, Denmark. Skagens Museum, Skagen, Denmark. The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark. The David Krohn Collection, US. The Hermés Collection. France. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel. The Juan Redón Collection, Espania. The K.P.A. Kunst på arbejdspladsen, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Museum of Art Photography, Odense, Denmark. The National Museum of Photography, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PRIZES & GRANTS

2021 Aage & Yelva Nimbs Fond
2012 Copenhagen Art Counsel
2012 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2009 Palle Fogtdals Photography travel stipend 2009 with Trine Søndergaard
2009 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2008 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2008 Niels Wessel Bagge’s Art Prize, Denmark.
2007 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2006 Paris Photo Jury’s Special Prize, Paris Photo 2006, France
2006 Books of the year. “HOW TO HUNT” Catagory of art & photography
2006 Nominated for the BMW Prize, Paris Photo 2006, France
2006 Selected for ParisPhoto2006 ”STATEMENT” the Nordic Countryes. Fr.
2006 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2006 Blix Fond, Denmark.
2006 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2005 Nominated for Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2006. DE.
2004 Nominated for Leopold Godowsky Jr. Color Photography Award 2005. US.
2004 Blix Fond ”how to hunt” Denmark.
2004 Danish Art Foundation Adorment, Denmark.
2004 The Danish Art Counsel ”how to hunt” Denmark.
2002 The Hasselblad Foundation, Gøteborg, Sweden.
2001 Blix Fond ”boxer” Denmark.
2000 The Danish Ministry of Culture development Fond. Denmark.
1999 Member of BAM; ”Billedhuset/2.Maj” Denmark.
1998 Anders Bording Prize. Denmark.
1997 The Int. Agfa Award for Young Photographers, Germany.
1996 World Press Joop Swartz Masterclass. Netherland.