Nursery

Pachinko is pleased to present a new exhibition by Danish artist Anna Sofie Mathiasen. This exhibition marks a continuation of Mathiasen’s ongoing exploration of the relationship between the physical environment and mental well-being, with a focus on a particular story from Dikemark psychiatric hospital (Asker, NO) about penguins.

In the 1930s, a psychiatrist attempted to cheer up patients by introducing penguins. However, the animals unfortunately did not survive the conditions. Dominating the exhibition is a large-scale watercolor drawing, spanning two meters in length, depicting a waddle of young penguins by the lake Verkensvannet at Dikemark. Accompanying the drawing are a series of ceramic penguin eggs, resting on pillows sewn from original textiles from the psychiatric hospital.

Mathiasen’s work draws inspiration from nesting, care and vulnerability, all themes central to the idea of a nursury. Eggs with their heavy symbolism and their potential of hatching or breaking are very present in this chapter of the exhibition, hinting at the absurdities and contradictions inherent in the relationship between mental health and the physical environment. The penguin motif, recurring in Mathiasen’s practice, serves as a symbol of vulnerability and resilience in the face of challenging circumstances.

This exhibition follows her solo show Folly in 2023 at O-Overgaden, Copenhagen. The artist’s own efforts to manage her mental health, in combination with the absurd history of the Dikemark penguins, prompted the artist to revisit a childhood pastime of building DIY wooden penguins with her dad. These figures now populate the sister exhibition at Nitja senter for samtidskunst (15 June–11 August 2024), while the nursery has found its way to Pachinko. Read together, the elements embody the paradoxical relationship of psychiatry and environment, where both the untamed nature and the meticulously artificial can contribute to a cyclical journey of healing.

The exhibition is generously supported by: The City of Oslo, Art Council Norway, Fond for Lyd og Bilde, Blix Fonden, Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, Statens Værksteder for Kunst.