You started painting when you were just a very little girl. What do you remember from your childhood? When did your love affair with painting begin?

Helene Knoop  (HK). My first solo exhibition was when I was about 21, but I´ve exhibited before that…when I was 16.



I´ve always been drawing, like many children do. Mostly children stop at the age 9-10, then they are more critical to the result of their drawings. I never stopped drawing. It was something I could do for hours. I guess I had a talent and luckily people around me saw that and they praised and encouraged me to keep on. I painted as well, with cheap watercolour and acrylics at High School, mostly the human figure and tried to copy other artist such as Monet and the "Skagen painters”.Then I became a pupil of Reidar Finsrud, a local craftsman in Drøbak, my hometown. He tought me how to create with clay, skulpture, making graphic prints and it was the first time for me to paint with oil. From that moment I felt this was the right medium for me. I was around 17/18 years old then.

Which artists have been the greatest influence on your painting?

HK. Tiziano has been, and still is, the biggest influencer in my work. But at the time I was a student of Odd Nerdrum, his work was very important for me to understand how to paint.

Please, tell us about the themes that inspired your painting in the past and those that inspire it today

HK. I used to be very occupied with greek mythology in the past, especially after my stay in Rome. Then I´ve kind of painted chapters in my life, putting them into a more surreal atmosphere. I´ve also focused on theemes like «Running», «Undercurrent» and «Youth» And now... the funny thing I´ve kind of comed back to the greek mythology. Still, the beauty is always included…

It is well known that you have self-portrayed in numerous paintings. Is there a specific reason for it?

HK. Self portraits has been a way for me to «play» with different roles and moods. Then, later, they have become a picture of my actual life. Many times the viewer can´t even see if I used myself as model as I includes «me» into a larger composition.

Your last solo exhibition was “Men”( 2020). Please, tell us the meaning and purpose of this serie of paintings.

HK.  «Men» was an idea brought up by two of my women colleagues, Bergsrud and Spildo. We were going to make only paintings with men as an object. Turning the history of art upside down; usually men has been painting women, as an object, through times. The result was two larger exhibitons in Sweden and Norway. I extended the theme and made a solo exhibition where I also had portrait of the No.1 in the world, chess player, Magnus Carlsen.

You are one of the most important artists in Norway and one of the best European portraitists. It is said the portraits you paint are more than portraits, more than mere representation…What is behind every portrait you paint?

HK. When I start a portrait it´s important for me to get to know the person I´m going to paint and to find the right atmosphere for him or her. A portrait is so much more than the look. I believe the medium painting has an irreplaceable role here.

Who would you like to paint a portrait?

HK. Give me the story of the model and I will paint out his or her personality, rich or poor, famous or not, young and old…

Your  projects for 2022 are…

Actually some fun portrait commissions.  I´m also planning to investigate into one of my ancestors past, Ludwig Knoop, who run the largest textile factory in Europe last century, and paint his story…

Interviewed by María Viedma

María Viedma

 Writer



Interview in Spanish  🇪🇸