Editing Odd Nerdrum (section)

==Artistic study==
Nerdrum began study at the [[Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts]], but became dissatisfied with the direction of [[modern art]], notably [[Robert Rauschenberg|Rauschenberg]]'s work, and began to teach himself how to paint in a [[Neo-Baroque painting|Neo-Baroque]] style, with the guidance of Rembrandt's technique and work as a primary influence. Nerdrum had seen Rembrandt's painting, ''[[The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis]]'' in the [[Nationalmuseum|National Museum of Fine Arts]] in Stockholm. Nerdrum says seeing the painting was "a shock... Pervasive. Like finding home. I can say I found a home in this picture,... The wonderful thing with Rembrandt is the confidence he inspires - like when you warm your hands on a stove. Without Rembrandt I would have been so poor".<ref>[http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/11/kultur/kunst/odd_nerdrum/11674491/ "Nå snakker Odd Nerdrum igjen" ("Now Odd Nerdrum is talking again")] Eivind Kristensen, ''Dagbladet'', May 11, 2010.</ref> By abandoning the accepted path of modern art, Nerdrum had placed himself in direct opposition to most aspects of the school, including his primary painting instructor, his fellow students, and a curriculum designed to present Norway as a country with an up-to-date artistic culture. He, in his own words, was chased from the academy after a two-year period like a "scroungy mutt". Years later Nerdrum said:

<blockquote>''I saw that I was in the process of making a choice that would end in defeat. By choosing those qualities that were so alien to my own time, I had to give up at the same time the art on which the art of our time rests. I had to paint in defiance of my own era without the protection of the era's superstructure. Briefly put I would paint myself into isolation.''<ref name="Themes">Nerdrum, Odd.Themes: Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures, Press Publishing, Norway, 2007.pg11</ref></blockquote>

Nerdrum later studied with [[Joseph Beuys]], at the [[Kunstakademie Düsseldorf]]. However, he continued to feel isolated from the other students, who nicknamed him "Zorn" from the notorious Swedish "flesh-painter."<ref name="Vine 26-42"/>