GYM BAR by John Kørner - An Absolut bar at Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen 2015

Standing at 2.07 meters, John Kørner has designed his Art Bar to meet his own physical dimensions. The oddly proportioned GYM BAR will physically challenge the average sized person, and will include various gym inspired objects that will force visitors to climb the installation before they can reach an Artist Cocktail by John Kørner. Visitors to the installation are invited to reflect on the resemblances and rituals of physical performance culture versus leisure culture.

John Kørner is known for his use of what he refers to as “problems” as a starting point in his work. This is expressed through his various artworks on canvas, in sculptures and now in his new and humorous installation, GYM BAR.

John Kørner on his inspiration for GYM BAR:

“Gymnastics, as I remember it from my school days, has always been attached to something problematic, traumatic, and rooted in what you could call an older ideology of discipline! Alcohol consumption has almost the same story and the combination of the two is humorous, especially the fact that you have to get the vodka drink from the top of the artwork. You must exercise to enjoy the drink and for me that’s great fun.”

GYM BAR is constructed out of massive oak, measuring almost 5 meters in length and 2.4 meters in height. Fairgoers who have the courage to climb the bar, will get rewarded with an Absolut Vodka GYM BAR cocktail, made in collaboration with the cocktail bar Balderdash and the artist specifically for this installation. The drinks will fittingly be served in convenient drinking bottles by sporty bartenders in custom made outfits, sponsored by Danish sports- wear brand Hummel.

ABSOLUT ART BAR

GYM BAR is a collaboration between artist John Kørner and Absolut. The result can be experienced at this year’s Chart Art Fair at Charlottenborg in Copenhagen 21-23 August.

Absolut is renowned for its long-standing collaboration with contemporary artists, from Andy Warhol to Louise Bourgeois as well as emerging artists such as Danish digital artists, Dark Matters.

Since 2012 Absolut has supported contemporary art through a number of ambitious site-specific Art Bar installations. These Art Bars has previously been constructed by artists such as Nadim Abbas and Ry Rocklen for Art Basel in Hong Kong and Miami. GYM BAR will be the premiere of the Absolut Art Bar concept in Denmark.

Saskia Neuman, Global Art Manager for Absolut, says on the Absolut Art Bar concept:

“The Art Bars give an artist carte blanche to conceptualise and create a full Art Bar concept, from décor to drinks, entertainment and ambience. We look for artists who are not household names but who are already established in their practice, doing something new and innovative, and want to take on a challenge of creating and curating a completely unique environment.”

Commenting on the collaboration with John Kørner and Chart Art Fair, Brand Manager for Absolut in Denmark, Evane Chenuet, adds:

“With John Kørner, we have found a local, but globally recognized, artist that is especially known for debating contemporary issues in his art. We are very proud of the fact that he has accepted the challenge to create a unique and different art bar experience in collaboration with Absolut.”

THE ARTIST

John Kørner (born 1967 in Aarhus, Denmark) is a contemporary artist whose production – be it paintings or installations – has always centred on the concept of “problems”. John Kørner’s work explores current global prob- lems, through themes such as war and traffick- ing as well as everyday life.

John Kørner’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions around the world during the last decade, and he has undertaken various decoration commissions, including the mural Afghanistan at Frederik VIII’s Palace at Ama- lienborg in Copenhagen. The works of John Kørner are moreover represented in the col- lections of the National Gallery of Denmark, the Rubell Family Collection in Miami, and the Tate Gallery in London among others.

He graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1998, and lives and works in Copenhagen.

TOP: JOHN KØRNER IN FRONT OF GYM BAR. BELOW: GYM BAR COCKTAIL BY JOHN KØRNER

CHART ART FAIR

As part of their ongoing involvement in contemporary art, Absolut is once again one of the key part- ners of Chart Art Fair. Besides the Absolut Gym Bar, the partnership includes an Absolut installation in the courtyard of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, build by talented architecture students as part of the Chart Architecture initiative.

Moreover, John Kørner can be experienced at the fair, where he is featured on the Chart Talks pro- gramme. Together with a number of fellow speakers, he will share his thoughts on contemporary art in the talk What Does it Mean to be Contemporary? The talk takes place at The Sculpture Garden, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, 22 August, 2.00 PM.

FURTHER EXPLORATION AND CONTACT INFO

GYM BAR is open to the public Saturday and Sunday, during CHART TALKS at The Sculpture Garden, Kunsthal Charlottenborg.
Please view full programme at www.chartartfair.com/programme/talks

Press can to sign up for the Grand Opening of Absolut GYM BAR, hosted in collaboration with the magazine COVER.

GYM BAR - GRAND OPENING EVENT
CHART ART FAIR - 21 August, 17-19 pm.
Please RSVP to august@madeinwonderland.dk

For press photos, and further information, please contact Sophie Hardinger/Wonderland: sophie@ madeinwonderland.dk

Interviews with John Kørner about GYM BAR can also be arranged with Sophie Hardinger.

For further information about Chart Art Fair, please visit: www.chartartfair.com

Explore previous Absolut Art Bar projects at www.absolut.com

For more information on John Kørner’s work and contact info, please visit Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, www.bjerggaard.com.

Learn more about Absolut: www.absolut.com www.pernod-ricard.com