Christian John Munks | Verdens sidste aften: Vester Farimagsgade 6, 1606 København V

OTP Copenhagen is pleased to present Verdens sidste aften by Christian John Munks, the first solo exhibition dedicated to the artist’s work.

The exhibition features a series of psychologically-charged paintings, sparsely distributed throughout the gallery. The figures depicted appear like characters in a ‘Kammerspiel’ or chamber play - a potent but minimal form of drama designed for small spaces, limited cast, minimal scenography and often with a focus on complex emotional dynamics. A subtle field of tension emerges between these figures, shaped by an interplay of anxiety and intimacy - hinting at a narrative that is kept deliberately ambiguous. It feels as if something just happened but that we have arrived too late to witness it. As viewers we are left with a scene that has been interrupted.

Munks’ approach to representation combines drawing from life with references to photographs, film stills and other sources of fiction and distortion. Attention in these paintings is largely focused towards facial expressions and hand gestures, although sections of patterned fabric also play an important role - often providing a protective or concealing layer. With extraneous objects and scenery stripped out, what emerges in its place is a unique emphasis on expression, on surface, and on that which lies beneath.