“They Sat for a Long Time Without Saying Anything”

A solo exhibition by Simon Ganshorn

February 7th - March 31st 2025

In his most ambitious solo exhibition to date, Simon Ganshorn (b. 1985, Aarhus, Denmark) invites us to step into the heart of his creative process. The show offers visitors an intimate glimpse into the artist’s practice as he creates works on-site throughout the duration of the exhibition. In an unfolding exploration of painting, text, sculpture, video, and performance, the living environment shifts and adapts, providing a deep understanding of the artist’s practice as it evolves before the audience.

Ganshorn’s multidisciplinary approach seeks to engage the full spectrum of human emotion. His work is rooted in the moods and textures of the everyday, exploring themes of human connection and shared experiences. His art pairs bold brushstrokes and layered textures with fragmented phrases, creating pieces that feel both raw and deeply considered.

Ganshorn considers himself a “builder of spaces” in both a symbolic and a literal sense, and in this exploration spaces become active participants in storytelling. With an acute sensitivity to atmosphere, Ganshorn constructs environments that evoke powerful, contrasting feelings. These spaces often blur the lines between the familiar and the unexpected, encouraging reflection and dialogue.

In this exhibition, Ganshorn’s atelier is both stage and tableau, an evolving canvas where his creative energy unfolds in real time. The open format invites visitors to witness and interact with the artist’s process, fostering a deeper understanding of how artworks come into being. This dynamic setting not only highlights the labor and experimentation behind each piece but also transforms the act of creation into a shared experience.

Click to see the artwork list

EXTENSIVE SECURITY FREEWARE
TEFLON MIND
THE LAST APPLE HAS FALLEN, 130 x 110 cm, acrylic and oil on canvas, 2024 — EXTENSIVE SECURITY FREEWARE TEFLON MIND THE LAST APPLE HAS FALLEN, 130 x 110 cm, acrylic and oil on canvas, 2024

AN OLD MAN IS SITTING IN ..., 115 x 150 cm
oil on canvas, 2023 — AN OLD MAN IS SITTING IN ..., 115 x 150 cm oil on canvas, 2023

MESH BAG FOR ORANGES BAKING PAPER
OLD DIRTY TOWELS
SHE WAS STILL, 40 x 50 cm, various materials on old painting with museum glass, 2023 — MESH BAG FOR ORANGES BAKING PAPER OLD DIRTY TOWELS SHE WAS STILL, 40 x 50 cm, various materials on old painting with museum glass, 2023

THE LOBBY WAS EMPTY OF PEOPLE; ONLY THE BELLBOY REMAINED SEATED ON THE HEAVY SOFA. THE ROOM WAS ELECTRIC, 140 x 100 cm, oil on canvas, 2024

ABOUT THE ARTIST

2018 – 2020 The Glasgow School of Art
2020 – 2023 Funen Art Academy
2024
Solen er så rød, solo exhibition, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Aarhus, Denmark

2023
Årgang 2023, group exhibition, Møstings Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark Enter Art Fair, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Copenhagen, Denmark
2022
Rolig Rolig, solo exhibition, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Aarhus, Denmark
2021
Odense Skulptur Triennale, group exhibition, Odense, Denmark
2020
Sikås Biennale 2020, Sikås, Sweden
2019
Twenty Four, group exhibition, Bricks Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Stilleben, group exhibition, Kunstbygningen I Vrå, Vrå, Denmark
TINFOIL AGENDA, group exhibition, Marie Kirkegaard Galleri Copenhagen, Denmark
Portrait Now, group exhibition, The Museum of National History, Hillerød, Denmark {GIFC Tour}
2018
Papercuts, group exhibition, Kristian Day, London Solo show, Kbh_Kabinet. Copenhagen, Denmark
Solo show, Grand Teatret, Copenhagen, Denmark {GIFC TOUR}
2017
Papercuts, group exhibition, Kristian Day, London
Welcome to the human experience, we are the ones doing works on canvas painting xxxx, group exhibition, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013
KP13 The artists easter exhibition, Kunsthal Aarhus, Contemporary Art Center, Aarhus, Denmark
2012
KE12 The artist autumn exhibition, Den frie, Centre of contemporary art, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019
Honeymoon, Morten Schelde & Lene Bach Lauritsen, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Walking Landscape Thirteen Stones In Between Nature, Jon Erik Nyholm, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark

404 Ghost, Sune Lysdal, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
In the kitchen, Julia Hvidtved, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Erasing The Mask- A Collection, Rasmus Højfeldt, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark Evolution Of The Mind, Jon Stahn, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Constant negotiation, Thorbjørn Bechmann, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark, Awarded by Statens kunstfond /The State Arts Foundation

2018
Room service, Sophie Hjerl. CGK,
Copenhagen, Denmark,
Awarded by Statens Kunstfond/The State Arts Foundation
Closed on Mondays, David Dellagi, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Certain kind of sadness, Simon Grimm CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark,
Depict The Mask, group exhibition, curated with Rasmus Højfeldt, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark, Realtid Notat, Stoffer, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tarv, group exhibition under Copenhagen Photo Festival,
Curated with Marie Anine Møller, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark
The origin of who you are right now, KVADRAT 16, Copenhagen, Denmark

2017
Welcome to the human experience, we are the ones doing works on canvas painting xxxx, group exhibition, curated with Galina Munroe & Jordy Kerwick, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark, Gruppeudstilling, group exhibition, curated with Benjamin Savi & Rasmus Styrmer
CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark

In the Gallery 3, group exhibition, curated with Rasmus Styrmer, CGK, Copenhagen Denmark