Hidden In Plain Sight

About the work

Creating the ultimate maximalist glamouflage, Hidden in Plain Sight is a multi-layered artwork of discovery, combining elements of classical paintings to create a new and bold artwork. The more you look, the more you find, which is true to Gjoen’s method of starting each piece with research. The butterflies are from The Opificio delle Pietre Dure, literally meaning Workshop of Semi-precious Stones (a public institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage, based in Florence). The base of the camouflage depicts the ceiling of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s Nuptial Allegory at the Ca’ Rezzonico in Venice, and the trompe l’oeil of the ceiling creates depth and layers, drawing us into the picture. UV inks and spot varnish on aluminium substrate panel.

Describing himself as an ‘accidental artist’, Magnus Gjoen was born in London to Norwegian parents and had a successful career in fashion before his thought-provoking spin on old masterpieces and fragments from the past made him a sought-after name in permanent collections around the world, including the Haifa Museum of Art and the Daimler Collection. Blending genres from completely different worlds, Magnus’ art is about rediscovery. He questions the notion of beauty by juxtaposing a range of styles and media, injecting a fine-art approach with a street/pop aesthetic that invites viewers to look closer, question, and challenge.