Ferdinand Ahm Krag

Skyggefod / Sciapod

The work of Ferdinand Ahm Krag takes its point of departure in the triangular gable to create a classical, geometric form: a Sierpinski triangle framing a Sciapod-figure — a motif gleaned from a Danish fresco painting in Råby Church near the town of Randers. The motif is probably inspired by the book The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, which was translated into Danish in the late 15th century and in which we find the story of a one-legged mythical creature originating from the East: the Sciapod.

In the Danish fresco the Sciapod is used to illustrate fornication —one of the seven deadly sins— in a frivolous depiction featuring highly potent genitals. Ahm Krag’s depiction is faithful to the original in Råby Church. He has painted a young, melancholy Sciapod sporting Medieval garb. The Sciapod is holding its right leg up in the air using the colossal, broad-toed foot as a parasol. It has plenty of curly hair on its legs and long, flame-red locks on its head.

Ahm Krag has adapted his Sierpinski triangle to fit the Sciapod motif. The two support one another, highlighting both the grotesque frivolity of the Medieval creature and the stringent, systematic beauty of the Sierpinski triangle.

b. 1977 in Århus, lives and works in Copenhagen