Hesselholdt & Mejlvang

Sofie Hesselholdt (born 21 April 1974) and Vibeke Mejlvang (born 24 August 1976) are a collaborative duo of visual artists who live and work in Copenhagen. They started collaborating in late 1999 and work with performance art and site-specific installations in public spaces addressing social and political topics such as National Identity and Eurocentrism.

Early life and education
Sofie Hesselholdt was born in 1974 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1998 she received a BA in Art History from the University of Copenhagen. In 1999 she started studying Fine Arts in the sculpture department under Lars Bent Petersen at the Funen Art Academy and in 2000 she got accepted at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. There, she started a six years long degree with professors Yvette Brackman, Ann Lislegaard and the last year Henrik B. Andersen, who was her MA thesis supervisor.

Vibeke Mejlvang was born in 1976 in Hjørring, Denmark. Like Sofie Hesselholdt, she started studying in the sculpture departmentat the Funen Art Academy under Lars Bent Petersen, and in 2001 she started at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. During her five years of study, she had Lone Høyer Hansen, Yvette Brackman and Henrik B. Andersen as professors, and Henrik B. Andersen as MA thesis supervisor.

The two artists met during their studies in 1999 at the Funen Art Academy in Odense and began working together the same year with their first show "Go Construct" at DFKU, the Funen Art Academy's exhibition venue. They collaborated on many projects during their study years and graduated together.

Work and themes
Since the beginning of their collaborative practice, Hesselholdt & Mejlvang have worked in a variety of media to create their distinctive expressions, using both classical expression such as sculpture, ceramics, photography, installation, and more contemporary approaches with large scenographic arrangements and performance art.

After their first show during their study, the duo worked with produced and found objects placed together in subtle arrangements (Krydstogt på Syndfloden Press Release), stuffed animals - often camouflaged - and taking up political and societal topics such as consumerism and immigration. During this period, they created their first wooden fence piece, which, together with the stuffed animals and flags, would later become one of their recognisable modes of expression.

The Black Flag
In 2008, they began working with flags, more precisely a black flag. The latter, combined with a black fence and a hidden rose garden, formed the installation "Barrikade" which was awarded a prize by the Danish Arts Foundation. Further exhibitions have included, once again, stuffed animals and found objects such as fences/barriers, both indoor and outdoor types. Mørkemænd / Dark Men, a project for the biennial Socle du Monde in Herning, brought a lot of attention to their practice and would later be acquired by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art.

Political aesthetic
With The Perfect Storm in 2009, they unleashed a big exhibition featuring a whole new body of works, comprising ceramic, burned (black) flags, stuffed painted camouflage birds, crocodiles and other animals, and miniature recreations of spaces. A broken dystopian environment where Hesselholdt & Mejlvang reflected on political, cultural, and societal issues. The same year, they exhibited in Germany, Sweden and Denmark. In the next years they keep working with fences, and in 2010 they took part in the exhibition Party and Lost at Den Frie Udstilling. Party and Lost was a group of groups formed in 2009 by four artist groups: Randi & Katrine, Hesselholdt & Mejlvang, Bank & Rau, and the remains of Ingen Frygt. The group of groups set out to explore the nature of community as a source of both power and loss of self.

During the years 2011–2013, they began working with the colours red and white in their installations, later adding black. Flags, fences and animals were still a signature in their practice, now joined by carpets, 1:1 recreations of spaces and more ceramic handmade objects. Nationalism, racism and symbolism were at the core of their message and practice.

Shades of skin
From 2014 to 2019, they addressed western values, ethnicity, looks, religion, and socio-political commitments of modern life, working with flags, drapes and stuffed animals. Pomp and Ceremony - Shades of Skin (the name of their first solo exhibition in Finland) was the core of their production of works.

Performance
From 2017 onwards, performance has become an integral part of their practice. With embroidery and collaborative artworks, they created big installations and performances in Palermo during Manifesta 12, and in Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen. The scale of their work has increased, bringing into play big embroidery works, balloon installations, big ceramic objects and public performances. In the later years they make also use of different media, spacing from newspapers to the digital world engaging more actively in debates and discussions, addressing topics such as language, ethnicity, religion, cultural expression and political structures.

Solo exhibitions
2021 2020
 * "The White Exhibition", EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo, Finland

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2009 2007 2006 2001 2000
 * "Flag of Interests", Nuuk Art Museum, Nuuk, Greenland
 * "Native, Exotic, Normal / Circle of Flags", Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark
 * "Soft power – a silent battle for hearts and minds", Politikens Forhal, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * THIS MOMENT is the BEGINNING, Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Eternal Flame", V1 Gallery / Eighteen, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Points of Unity", IZOLYATSIA, Kyiv, Lviv and Kryvya Rih, Ukraine
 * "Native, Exotic, Normal", Uppsala Konstmuseum, Uppsala, Sweden
 * "Native, Exotic, Normal", Den Frie Centre for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "The Situation Room", FB69 Galerie Kolja Steinrötter, Münster, Germany
 * "Flesh Tint Project", KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art + Kunsthal NORD, Aalborg, Denmark
 * "Homeland Security", Platform Arts, Belfast, Northern Ireland
 * "Flags of Aggression", National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Residency Changdong, Seoul, Korea
 * Little Blonde Girl, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
 * "Pomp and Ceremony - Shades of Skin", Turku Art Museum, Turku, Finland
 * "Hunger for Aggression", Oslo Kunstforening, Oslo, Norway
 * "Armed Response", Norrtälje Konsthall, Norrtälje, Sweden
 * "New Waves in the Hood", Das Kunstbüro, Aarhus, Denmark
 * "Hunger for Aggression", V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "The Dark Passenger", SKMU Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand, Norway
 * "Mörkersyn", Växjö Konsthall, Växjö, Sweden
 * "Daily Life in the Eye of the Hurricane", FB69 Galerie Kolja Steinrötter, Münster, Germany
 * "The Perfect Storm", V1 Gallery, Copenhagen. Denmark
 * "Tornado Nearby", Charlotte Fogh Gallery at Preview Berlin, Germany
 * "Større Horisonter i Nabolaget", Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
 * "Udflugt i Bælgravende Mørke", Galleri 21, Malmo, Sweden
 * "Krydstogt på Syndfloden", Fung Sway, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "When the Wind Blows", Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
 * "Det er 27 grader i skyggen og Trust me, I wasn’t expecting our kiss, the Apistemple (With Nanna Debois Buhl) in Frederiksberg Garden, Copenhagen. Denmark
 * "Indblik: Lykken kan læres", bunker in The Ørsteds Park, Copenhagen, Denmark

Group exhibitions
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2003
 * "This Boat with a Broken Rim", Mumbai Art Room, Mumbai, India
 * "Sustainable Societies for the Future", Malmö Art Museum, Malmö, Sweden
 * "In Focus: Statements", Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Up Close - Performance Festival", Det Classenske Bibliotek, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Udvekslinger", The Art Museum Brundlund Castle, Aabenraa, Denmark
 * "FLAG - Objekt, Ikon, Symbol", Randers Art Museum, Randers, Denmark
 * "No Scrubs", Hot Dock Project Space, Bratislava, Slovakia
 * "Earth-Body", The Geological Museum of Mexico City, Mexico
 * "Mini Mono Mental", ChaShaMa, New York City, USA
 * "KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU", Künstlerhaus Bregenz, Austria
 * "Manifesta 12", Palermo, Italy
 * "Cool, Calm and Collected", ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus, Denmark
 * "Revisit: Erotik", Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art, Denmark
 * "Grand Designs - Clever Hands", CLAY keramikmuseum Danmark, Middelfart, Denmark
 * "Socle du Monde Biennial", HEART Museum of Contemporary Art, Herning, Denmark
 * "Carte Blanche", The French Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "The Emperor is Naked", The Waiting Room, Minneapolis, MN, USA
 * "The Emperor Has No Clothes", The Ski Club, Milwaukee, WI, USA
 * "En Blank og Vårfrisk Dag", Arbejdermuseet, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "World Script Symposia", Public space, Seoul, Korea
 * "NOT AT HOME", Viborg Kunsthal, Denmark
 * "Art Eco: Art-ivism", Museumcultuur Strombeek, Belgium
 * "Other Forms of Relations", National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Residency Changdong, Seoul, Korea
 * "Silent Review", National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Residency Changdong, Seoul, Korea
 * "Drømmeland", KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Denmark
 * "Common Tales", Skånes Konstförening, Malmo, Sweden
 * "1986 - 2013 / An artist collects art", Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Øvre Eiker, Norway
 * "Unfinished Journeys", Copenhagen Art Festival, Gl. Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "I’m like a bird", Johannes Larsen Museum, Kerteminde, Denmark
 * "Huset i Skoven", Skovhuset ved Søndersø, Værløse, Denmark
 * "ENTER", Kunsthallen Brandts, Odense, Denmark
 * "I’m like a bird", Skovgaard Museum, Viborg, Denmark
 * "WHAT’S HE BUILDING IN THERE?", FUSE Gallery, NYC, USA
 * "Socle du Monde", HEART - Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Herning, Denmark
 * "Party and Lost", Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Nordic Art Triennial", Eskilstuna Art Museum, Eskilstuna, Sweden
 * "Brede Værk" - Museum for Industrial culture, Danish National Museum, Brede, Denmark (permanent exhibition)
 * "The Destruction of Atlantis", Union Gallery, London, United Kingdom
 * "Socle du Monde", HEART - Herning Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
 * "Pastiche", Sølyst Castle, Jyderup, Denmark
 * "Botanisk forvandling", Vejle Artmuseum, Denmark
 * "Kritisk form", Skulpturi.dk, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Match Race", Kunsten – Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Denmark
 * "WHEN HUMOUR BECOMES CRITICAL", Big Family Business, Istanbul, Turkey
 * "SPEAK UP", Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Homecoming", Vendsyssel Museum of Art, Hjørring, Denmark
 * "Corner 2006", Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
 * "EXIT06", Graduate Show, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Kunstforeningen Gl. Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Arbejde Arbejde Arbejde", Overgaden – Institute of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "Add X to (n)", Museum of Contemporary Art, Roskilde, Denmark
 * "Bagværk med glasur – keramik i Vejen", Vejen Art Museum, Denmark
 * "Overblik – historier om kunsten og den nye by", Museum of Contemporary Art, Roskilde / public space of Trekroner, Denmark
 * "THE PROJECT", Tallinn Arthall, Estonia / The Academy of Latvia's Exhibition Hall, Latvia
 * "Det Hvide Guld", Royal Copenhagen / Marienlyst Castle, Elsinore, Denmark

Performances
2020


 * "Please rest in peace for we shall not repeat the error", Malmö Art Museum, Malmö, Sweden
 * "Soft power - a silent battle for hearts and minds", Politikens Forhal, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "LESS POWER LESS", Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "An Explosive Moment", Up Close Performance Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark

2019


 * "Flag of Truce", Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * "THIS MOMENT is the BEGINNING", Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark

2018


 * "For a Better Tomorrow", Manifesta 12, Palermo, Italy
 * "Eternal Flame", V1 Gallery / Eighteen, Copenhagen, Denmark

2017


 * "Desire for Domination", Overgaden. Institut for Samtidskunst, Copenhagen, Denmark

Commissions

 * The Danish Cultural Institute, New Delhi, India 2019
 * Falkonergården Gymnasium, Copenhagen, Denmark 2019
 * Public playground in Hillerød, Denmark 2018
 * The Tattooed Urn, Skovsnogen (Deep Forest Art Land), Herning, Denmark 2017
 * Common Images, Kvindehjemmet, Copenhagen, Denmark 2017
 * Totem, Herning Main Library, Herning, Denmark 2014
 * Flying Carpet, Ventemøllegården, Soroe, Denmark 2014
 * Hav, Hansted Monastery, Horsens, Denmark 2007
 * Torvet i Østerhøj, Ballerup, Denmark 2006
 * Højager School, Ballerup, Denmark 2005

Collections (selected)

 * National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * Malmö Art Museum, Malmö, Sweden
 * Uppsala Konstmuseum, Uppsala, Sweden
 * Sørlandets Kunstmuseum - SKMU, Kristiansand, Norway
 * Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * CLAY keramikmuseum Danmark, Middelfart, Denmark
 * KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark
 * The Workers Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * Ny Carlsbergfondet, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * The Royal Danish Art Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * Aalborg Municipality Aalborg Kommunes Kunstfond, Aalborg, Denmark
 * Norrtälje Municipality, Sweden
 * Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark
 * Aarhus Municipality, Denmark
 * DBC, Ballerup, Denmark
 * Saxo Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark
 * Brask Collection, Denmark
 * Djurhuus Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark

Books and catalogues

 * A Radically Better Tomorrow, (Copenhagen, Roulette Russe, 2019) ISBN 9788797037621
 * This Moment is the Beginning, (Copenhagen, Trojan Horse Press / V1 Gallery, 2019) ISBN 978-87-992350-9-4
 * The Aryan Zebra, (Berlin, Revolver Publishing, 2016) ISBN 978-3-95763-351-4
 * Native, Exotic, Normal, (Copenhagen, Den Frie Udstilling, 2016) ISBN 978-87-997293-2-6
 * Uorden - Disorder, (Vejby, Hurricane Publishing, 2009) ISBN 978-87-7669-034-2
 * Krydstogt på SyndFloden, (Valby, Fung Sway, 2007) ISBN 87-7603-063-6