Danish painter Alexander Tovborg fills his semi-abstract paintings with enigmatic imagery influenced by mythology and folklore. In Europha, Tovborg reduces heads and fists into icons stacked to resemble the artwork of ancient civilizations. The titles of his work often reference mythological stories, though their connection to his imagery is left a mystery. For this series of paintings, Tovborg references Europa, the Phoenician princess who was abducted by Zeus masquerading as a bull. The hidden symbolism embedded in the saturated felt surface is repeated in several versions of the same composition, and Tovborg paints each motif without revisiting the last painting, using only his memory to recreate the arrangement. Tovborg has exhibited internationally, and in 2014 had his first exhibition in the US.
Alexander Tovborg
EUROPHA
2016
acrylic, watercolor crayon, and felt on canvas
39 3/8 x 25 5/8 inches