As reported by Danmarks Radio and MetroXpress on August 23, the pop art artist Steffen Kindt experienced a turbulent summer in 2007. Initially, an exhibition of Steffen Kindt’s paintings at Danish Shell in Nærum was abruptly closed with a day’s notice, and later, an exhibition at Hewlett-Packard in Allerød met the same fate.

The reason given by the two multinational companies for imposing total censorship was reportedly that some employees and/or guests were offended by certain motifs. It is not known for certain whether Danish galleries have had the same experience with Steffen Kindt’s images, but there are indications that this might be the case. At least, the German-born artist, who has lived in Denmark since 1973, has struggled to break through in parts of the Danish art world. However, an artistic breakthrough in Germany earlier in the year may open up new opportunities in Denmark—or perhaps the gallerists will be inspired by Steffen Kindt’s exhibition in Aalborg Kunstpavillon, where many of the ‘forbidden’ images can also be seen.

Steffen Kindt’s paintings build on the American pop art tradition, best known through the interpreter Roy Lichtenstein. The inspiration from the language of advertising and comics is evident with tightly cropped, often erotically tinged motifs, where the primary colors red and yellow, along with black, shout loudly and penetratingly. And in the genteel region of North Zealand, apparently also extremely provocative.

The exhibition in Aalborg Kunstpavillon opens on Saturday, September 1st, from 12 PM to 3 PM, and the controversial images will remain on display at Søndergade 20 in Aalborg until Saturday, September 22nd.