Henrick Olesen body of work post 2004 would not be considered altermodern. Although his work is represented in multiple formats (posters, fliers, text, collages, Found object sculptures and spatial interventions ), altermodernism is not represented within his work. Altermodern has been defined, but not limited to incorporating globalization, communication and affecting the way we live.
Olesen 's work is visual and thought provoking, History and in depth research seem to be present in all his work. In his piece Alan Turing 2008, Olesen focuses on the portrait of this young man dated 1928. Turing a brilliant mathematician and a homosexual, worked for the British Army and was persecuted at the same time. Many of his works deal with the lack of positive history or history itself of gay persons throughout time.
In another piece, titled Imitation/Enigma 2008 Olesen combines box, rope , tape, padding material and blanket to manifest the structure of power and systems. Although his themes are universal: persecution, power and normalizations of daily objects, his globalization is only represented by the fact his work has been displayed in many countries. I find his work to be of a historical perspective whether imagined or real. Contemporary, postmodern represents Olesen, altermodern we'll save for later.
http://artnews.org/moma/?exi=24009
http://www.moussemagazine.it/articolo.mm?id=75
Extreme Tension
