Exhibited: ”Spejlbilleder”, Det Nationalhistoriske Museum, Frederiksborg, Hillerød, 1992–93. Exhibited: ”Kunstnere vi mødte”, Fanø Kunstmuseum, 1 September-21 October 2018. Provenance: Acquired by the present owner in 1993 at Galleri Franz Pedersen, Horsens.

In Michael Kvium’s already lengthy artistic career, the “Arvtager” series represents a milestone with a very special reputation and art historical weight. The series consists of 10–12 paintings, one of which – “Handlingen” (The Act) – is represented at Horsens Kunstmuseum, while several of the others are in prominent private collections. For Kvium, the starting point was an existential doubt: “What is the most important thing we humans inherit or learn from history? In a search for answers to this question, some basic images emerged that I can pass down. The images I feel are most important to pass on are to be found beyond the angry outbursts or the joyful message and pose a question rather than provide an answer. Why?” (Michael Kvium, Horsens Kunstmuseum) In typical Kvium style, “Skyggelandskab” not only poses questions about the role of art in society, but more importantly also about human existence in the world. The title and motif can thus, through Plato’s cave allegory, be seen as a commentary on a life where, in our blindness, we confuse shadows with reality, hindering access to a greater insight.