Literature: “Agonia. Selfpromotion & aspects of art history”, Edition UNOVIS, 1973. Exhibited: Retrospective exhibition, Galleri 38, Copenhagen, 1973.

Erik S. Gram-Hanssen (1937–2018) was a Danish artist who distinguished himself through his experimental approach to art and his deep commitment to exploring the abstract and the figurative. A significant part of his artistic development took place during his time at the Experimental Art School, also known as the “Eks-skolen,” in the 1960s.

Gram-Hanssen was drawn to the free and experimental environment of the Eks-skolen, which emphasized collective work, interdisciplinarity, and a break with the established art world. This approach aligned well with his artistic philosophy, where the boundaries between different art forms were often challenged and blurred. At the Eks-skolen, Gram-Hanssen began to develop a style characterized by intense colors, complex structures, and a fascination with the organic and the forms of nature, which would become hallmarks of his later work.

Gram-Hanssen's works clearly reflect the influence of the Eks-skolen's ideas of experimentation and liberation from conventions. His paintings and sculptures combine abstract forms with a deep sense of materiality and space, often using nature's structures as a metaphor for humanity's relationship with the world. At the same time, he began to integrate elements from his studies of natural sciences, which added a unique depth and complexity to his works.

Erik S. Gram-Hanssen's time at the Eks-skolen was crucial to his artistic development and helped shape his unique style and approach to art. The school's radical and open environment gave him the freedom to experiment and grow as an artist, which was reflected in his long career, where he became known for his ability to create works that both challenge and captivate. The influence of the Eks-skolen can be traced throughout many of his works, where the experimental and boundary-pushing always remained central.