When designing the new identity for the Charlottenborg Forårsudstillingen/Spring Exhibition, we focussed on the original mascot “Putto” of Foundation Charlottenborg dating back to 1888. Putto as a pencil sketch, has a an appealing fragile and unfinished energy, which somehow gradually got lost through various contemporary re-traces and digitalizations. 

Regarding the sketch as a symbol of an “idea” — something unfinished, a starting point — would fit the context of the historic exhibition which was also an open call since 1888, a moment which signifies a “debut” for many young artists.

The exhibition handouts are mainly printed by stanza and a part of our continuous attempt of making best use of the means at hand, simplifying production chains, and touching upon a political potential of making more with less.

For certain specialised printing methods, we collaborated with printer Louise Sidenius of Actum Kopi & Tryk in Vesterbro in Copenhagen. The 2024 publication is printed exclusively on salvaged secondhand paper from Chr. Jørgensens Bogtrykkeri.

The exhibition handout is accompanied by a custom website catalogue: katalog2024.foraarsudstillingen.dk.

The identity develops slightly each year by an increase of strokes, such as 2024’s crayon colours.

For 2025 Putto is drawn as plural, inspired by this years curatorial approach by artist collective coyote – seeking to give space to the work of groups and collectives, and challenging the classical idea of the artist as a lonely genious.