HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS
In collaboration with 2112, Fantastic Frank's showroom in Copenhagen is transforming into a vibrant exhibition space. The exhibitions, curated by art advisor and gallery owner Caroline Bøge, brings the world of art directly into a real estate setting, starting with the group show, Home is Where the Art Is. By showcasing a curated selection of works from Danish and international artists, this collaboration redefines the boundaries between living spaces and gallery experiences. We sat down with Caroline to discuss her vision for the exhibition and the journey behind this collaboration.
Home is Where the Art Is explores the connection between art and home. How did the concept for this exhibition come to life?
As art professional and collector, art is a need to have, and I would not feel at home without several pieces from my collection. They are a testament to my life and keep giving back to me. As my art collection grows, new connections between the works arise, making my home a place of reflection and inspiration.
Hosting an art exhibition in a real estate office is quite unconventional. What inspired you and Fantastic Frank to create this unique collaboration?
Fantastic Frank came to me with an ambition to transform their Copenhagen office into a gallery to create an inspirational setting of great contemporary art from which they could also work and present their inventory of amazing properties. I was immediately drawn to the idea, since I am always a fan of meaningful collaborations. The plan is that I will curate 3-4 annual exhibitions in their beautiful space in Bredgade.
Gun Gordillo, EKKI, 2024, Courtesy the artist and 2112.
The exhibition features a diverse group of artists from different backgrounds. How did you go about selecting the artists for this exhibition?
For the inaugural exhibition, I decided to curate a group show with great pieces by a variety of Danish and international artists. ‘Home is where the art is’ refers to my personal need of living with art, as well as to the feedback I get from longtime clients and collectors, who tell me they can’t imagine life without it. To have a beautiful home, and to be able to collect art is of course a privileged position, and my personal collection as well as the one I have curated for this show does also contain works that touch upon themes of displacement and belonging. In general, I have chosen works that I would wish to live with myself.
2112 is a unique name for a gallery. Can you tell us more about the story of the name?
2112 is a hybrid business that includes artist representation, art advisory and collaborations, and the numbers represent my birthday, which is December 21st. It does however also refer to ‘Galerie 2112’, my parents ran in the 80s and 90s. Choosing to name my business 2112 was to pay homage to the work of my parents and to ‘close the circle’.
Gallery owner Caroline Bøge, shot by Simon Baungård.
Having witnessed the evolution of the Danish art scene, what changes have you found most significant in recent years, and how do you think they affect emerging artists?
I have noticed a rise in non for profit and artist driven spaces. Also, there has been an increase in women opening galleries, which in turn has caused more female artist representation. In general, there has been a (much needed) increase in women artists represented by commercial galleries, as well as in institutional collections. I think emerging artists today are generally quite good at promoting their work on digital platforms, and it is my impression that many of them find ways to exhibit and sell their work outside the traditional gallery model.
How do you think the experience of viewing the exhibition at a real estate office influences how the artwork is interpreted, compared to a traditional gallery setting?
I hope that it will be a refreshing experience. One that will surprise people and perhaps take their ‘guards off’ a bit and view the art for art’s sake. Although my colleagues and I are in the gallery in Holbergsgade 20, we are only a short walk or a phone call/email away, and the Fantastic Frank team are on site to guide visitors in the right direction - be it for art or real estate. Our hope is of course to inspire people to live with art – and to find a new home to place it in.
Imi Knoebel, BIG GIRL Z.2, 2017, Courtesy the artist and von Bartha.
The exhibition opens on November 2nd at our showroom located at Bredgade 45, Copenhagen.