Bjørn Mortensen Trompe—l'œil
Gyldenpris Kunsthall

Trompe-l'œil, also written trompe l'oeil, (from French trompe, «deceive», and l'œil, «the eye»); can also be called iIllusion paintings in which the motif is depicted so true to nature that the viewer “must believe it is real”. The images are characterized by objects and figures being reproduced in natural size and painted so accurately and in detail that a realistic three-dimensional effect is created. The effect is used in the art of painting in the form of large frescoes, facade decorations and easel paintings. Illusion painting can in an extended sense also include imitations of material and decorative and backdrop paintings.

Bjørn Mortensen (b.1977, Bergen, Norway) lives and works in Bergen. His work has been exhibited at Bergen Kjøtt; Norwegian Sculpture Biennial; Global Committee (US); Kunstnerforbundet (NO); NADA New York (US); New York Art Book Fair, MoMA PS1 (US); Kraft (NO); Spazio Gerra (IT); Entrée New York Satellite (US); Tag Team (NO); Knipsu (NO); Passatge (ES); Potsyd (NO); Banská Stiavnica (SVK) and Elthorne Studios (UK). He is educated from Central St. Martins in London (UK) and Bergen Academy of Art and Design (NO). In addition to his own practice he runs the project Tollbodallmenningen 39, where he infrequently shows other artists work from his studio in a residential building in the city center of Bergen. Together with artist Mathijs van Geest he also runs the small publishing house, Apis Press.

The exhibition was supported by the Cultural Council and NBK