Kenneth Rasmussen’s art is both a portrait of his inner life as a person living with a mental disability and a reflection of the shared reality of everyday life – in all its ups and downs. Where, and under which circumstances, do we fit into society’s norms? Do we carve out a place in the world by adapting to other people’s ideas of normality, or by taking life into our own hands?
Here are three key things to know about Kenneth Rasmussen:
1. Free sex for the bottle pickers!
Rasmussen has a deep concern for society’s vulnerable and for those struggling against established structures and demands. When he takes aim at “IT people” in his works, it highlights how the digitalised society can be difficult to navigate for many. His art pulses with activist energy, calling loudly for humanity and social justice in uncompromising terms.
2. Plastic, clay and linoleum – and a torrent of words
Rasmussen’s art is rich in variety, with the tactile encounter between hand and material at its core: from vast, wild knitted sculptures of plastic-bag strips hanging from the ceiling like a jungle of organic shapes, to expressive ceramic figures and meticulously detailed linocuts stretching over several metres. Words also play a vital role, functioning as an artistic medium, on par with the visual language of his works.
3. The personal is political
Rasmussen refers to himself as “mentally disabled”. He is an artist and a person with special needs and life challenges – and he transforms this into strength in his art. His restless thoughts become a driving force for creativity and for engaging with the world around him.
Kenneth Rasmussen (b. 1971) began in 2000 as a student at Bifrost in Randers, an art school for adults with special needs. Since 2002, he has exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group shows. Bifrost plays a crucial role in supporting these artists by fostering community and care through artistic development. The school is run by professional artists, with a focus on art and creativity rather than diagnoses.
KENNETH RASMUSSEN – GODDAMMIT is the artist’s largest exhibition to date, and can be experienced at ARKEN from 18 September 2025 – 26 April 2026.
Kenneth Rasmussen, Støt Indianer Stig støt ham for helvede mand.
References:
”Kenneth Rasmussen”, bifrostart.dk, June 27, 2025.
Lise Jeppesen, Kenneth Rasmussen – Installation, Sculpture and Graphics 2000–2022, Randers Kunstmuseum, 2022.
1212.jpg)