Get close to Can Lis, Jørn Utzon’s unusual house on Mallorca – and one of the most important buildings of the 20th century.
It all began with a pencil sketch of the life he wanted to create for himself and his family. A simple, wonderful life close to nature.
In this exhibition, you come up close to Jørn Utzon’s famous Mediterranean house, Can Lis. From the first, fantastic sketches to the completed sandstone villa, portrayed in a formidable way through the photographs of artists Torben Eskerod and Erik Steffensen.
For a quarter of a century, Can Lis and the cliff edge were the fixed framework of Jørn Utzon’s life. Today, the building is recognized as one of the most important of the 20th century – and an early example of architecture that embodies the simplicity and tranquility many long for today.
On paper, Jørn Utzon drew vaulted roofs and elongated terraces – and himself and his wife Lis, naked under the southern sun.
The sketch captures the essence of Can Lis, which was completed in 1973 and which Jørn Utzon lovingly named after his wife. Earthbound and elevated at the same time.
The house seems to spring from Mallorca’s cliff edge. The sandstone blocks that form the foundation and walls of the house are cut directly from the bedrock, binding the building inseparably to its place. Open spaces and hidden window frames dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. And light and sea play the leading roles in this living work of art.
In the exhibition, you can experience original drawings and models from Jørn Utzon’s private archive as well as photographs by artists Torben Eskerod and Erik Steffensen, who in different ways capture the special atmosphere of Can Lis – from the mystical and otherworldly to the intimate and deeply sensual.
Erik Steffensen (born 1961) is a Danish artist and a prominent figure, particularly within photography. Steffensen is fascinated by the mystical and dreamlike, and his works often contain surreal and poetic elements that engage the viewer both intellectually and emotionally.
Torben Eskerod (born 1960) is a Danish photographer especially recognized for his portraits and landscape photographs, where he combines technical precision with a deep sensitivity to the human psyche and the aesthetics of nature. His work is often characterized by a minimalist approach and a refined sense of light and shadow.
