Nordic Portraits

Danica Curcic is an acclaimed actor of both stage and screen who became a household name with her Bodil-award winning performance in Bille August’s 2014 film Silent Heart. She has since established herself as a leading name within Denmark and abroad - be it series such as The Bridge, Equinox and Stephen King’s The Mist, through to her theatrical portrayals of Lulu and Joan of Arc.  Her prodigious talent and prolific dedication to the craft culminated in her being awarded the 2020 Danish Crown Prince Couple’s prestigious Culture Award for her ‘tremendous bravery and uncompromising artistic contribution’. 

Claes Bang is an acclaimed actor of both stage and screen, who after building a strong career in Denmark, burst onto the global scene with his leading performance in 2017’s Cannes Palme d’Or winning film, The Square.  He has since been in high demand, landing the titular role of Dracula in the latest BBC series as well as starring in The Burnt Orange Heresy, The Last Vermeer and the much anticipated upcoming epic The Northman - joining a cast including the likes of Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe and Alexander Skarsgaard.   

Tal R is an internationally renowned visual artist, working across a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, textiles and sculpture.  Known for his highly colorful palettes and playful imagery, Tal has forged a name for himself as one of Denmark’s preeminent contemporary artists.  His works have been widely exhibited, including at Cheim & Read in New York, Royal Academy of Art in London and Contemporary Fine Arts in Berlin just to name a few. 

Explore more of Tal's work here:

www.talr.dk 

Jonas Bjerre is a musician and visual artist, best known as the lead singer of Danish alternative rock band Mew.  Since their breakthrough album Frengers was released in 2003, Mew has continued to impress fans and critics worldwide with their constantly evolving sound and bold willingness to push boundaries sonically.  Beyond his work with Mew, Jonas is also an accomplished visual artist and animator, having created the stunning and often fantastical visuals for the band’s live concert experiences as well as the iconic music videos for Mew and other major artists.

Explore more of Jonas' work here:

http://jonasbjerre.com 

Elisabeth Toubro is a renowned sculptor, perhaps best known for her public art pieces including City Fractal in Søren Kierkegaards Plads in Copenhagen and The Squares Well Loop fountain structure in Store Torv in Aarhus.  In addition, Elisabeth has exhibited widely in Denmark and abroad, with her impressive body of work earning her amongst other prizes, the coveted Thorvaldsen Medal and Premio Internazionale di Scultura from the Nivola Foundation in Rome. 

Explore more of Elisabeth's work at:

www.elisabethtoubro.dk

Jacob Holdt is a photographer, writer and lecturer whose seminal book American Pictures, chronicles his 5 years of living as a vagabond in the United States in the 1970s.  The now iconic images from his journey, capture with great intimacy what he experienced whilst living in poor African American communities and urban ghettos as well as documenting his close relationships with white supremacists, convicted murderers, wealthy aristocrats and everything in between.  He has since spent the greater part of the last five decades as a writer and lecturer with a sharp focus on the subject of racism. 

Explore more of Jacob's work at:

www.american-pictures.com 

Nikolaj Hübbe is a globally renowned figure in the world of ballet.  Having forged a career as a young talent at the Royal Danish Ballet, Nikolaj was then pursued to join the prestigious New York City ballet as principal dancer. After wowing audiences and critics alike for over 15 years he returned to the Royal Danish Ballet where he has since 2008 held the esteemed position of Artistic Director or as it is referred to in Denmark, Balletmester.  

Jan Grarup is a globally acclaimed photojournalist who has spent over 25 years covering in great depth, many of the world’s largest conflicts and humanitarian crises.  From Sudan to Somalia and Haiti to the Gaza Strip, his images are intimate, often brutal at times beautiful and always unflinching.  Jan has received no less than eight World Press Photo awards and a string of prizes recognising his long-term contribution to critical humanitarian work.

Explore more of Jan's work at:

https://jangrarup.photoshelter.com

Kira Skov is a critically acclaimed singer songwriter who rose to fame in Denmark as frontwoman of the eponymously titled rock band Kira and the Kindred Spirits.  Known for her diverse range and bold creative collaborations with other artists, Kira has released no less than 14 albums to date.  Including the remarkable 2018 release, 'The Echo Of You' which was written and recorded in the aftermath of the tragic loss of her husband Nicolai.

Explore more of Kira's music at:

www.kiramusic.com

Simone Aaaberg Kærn is a visual artist, filmmaker, activist and aviator.  She is perhaps best known for flying a tiny single prop airplane from Denmark into the heart of war torn Afghanistan which formed the subject for her 2006 documentary ‘Smiling In A War Zone’.  Never a stranger to controversy, Simone was also the artist behind the much-discussed, official portrait of Prime Minister and Nato General Secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Explore more of Simone's work at:

www.aaberg-kaern.dk