– I am an artist. Clearly. I’m not a fraud. That is a claim the police have made. It will be at their expense, says John Erik Hedemark to news. On Monday he must appear in court, accused of several cases of fraud and embezzlement in connection with the sale of art. The trial will last two weeks, and more than 30 witnesses have been called. Prosecutor Andreas Meeg-Bentzen does not want to comment on the case before it goes before the Oslo District Court. GLATTCELLE: Police prosecutor Andreas Meeg-Bentzen shows off the art that has been seized. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Who is Werner Jensen? For several years, Hedemark sold paintings signed by Werner Jensen. The customers learned that Werner Jensen was a renowned artist and that his pictures had been exhibited in a number of places. What they did not learn was that “Werner Jensen” was a pseudonym, and that the pictures were painted by the gallerist Hedemark himself. That is why the police believe Hedemark has defrauded his customers. The customers only found out who “Werner Jensen” was when Hedemark himself admitted to news that it was an alias. In late summer 2020, the police raided his gallery at Frogner. Several hundred photos were seized, and Hedemark was charged in the case. FORMER GALLERY: John Erik Hedemark had his gallery at this address on Frogner in Oslo. Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news The images are still in police custody. Hedemark says he is looking forward to the case finally going to court. – I think I have my way. I have built up an art alias that has been an art project for 25 years. I can vouch for that – both art-historically, what I have painted and what I have delivered, he says to news. Hedemark believes that his use of a pseudonym is not illegal, and points out that a number of great artists throughout history have used stage names and aliases. In addition to Werner Jensen, Hedemark has also used two other aliases – Knut Olesen and Erik Krohn. – That’s kind of the point of a pseudonym, that it should be an artist alias, which is then a name that is, quite simply, a bit – if not secret – then at least not directly transferable to you as a person, he says . This is the “Werner Jensen” case In August 2020, plainclothes police raided the gallery at Frogner and seized over 200 works of art. The paintings they were looking for were signed Werner Jensen, Knut Olesen and Erik Krohn. In the interview with news, Hedemark admitted that he painted under all three of these names. Hedemark is now charged with gross fraud. In total, the customers must have paid 272,000 for the pictures signed by fictitious artists. Six artists have also reported Hedemark for embezzlement and believe they have never been paid for artwork Hedemark exhibited in his gallery. Satisfied customers? After the police raid and the subsequent investigation, the police have been in contact with a number of Hedemark’s customers. When the case goes before the court, 12 of these have the status of offended. Some of the customers paid as much as NOK 70,000 for two pictures. The indictment states that Hedemark “concealed” the fact that the pictures were made by himself, and that the customers were therefore made to suffer a financial loss “corresponding to the remuneration”. According to the indictment, he had 91 pictures for sale with false information. One of the customers who will testify in court is Michael Berggren. In July 2020, he paid NOK 10,000 for a Werner Jensen picture. He tells news that he feels deceived by Hedemark. – It is perfectly fine to publish art under a pseudonym, but then you must disclose it. That’s what many artists do, and it wouldn’t have been a problem either, if you had been told, he says to news. BOUGHT PAINTING: In the summer of 2020, Michael Berggren bought this picture by John Erik Hedemark. Photo: Michael Berggren Berggren reacts particularly to the fact that, according to him, the documentation he was shown when he bought the picture did not match. – He has provided documentation that this is an artist who is Norwegian, but who does not live in Norway – an artist who has had many exhibitions, both in Norway and in other countries. CUSTOMER: Michael Berggren feels cheated after buying art from John Erik Hedemark. Photo: Åshild Reime Hedemark tells news that it is sad that 12 customers have reported him, but that it is “almost a badge of honour” that not more have done so. The vast majority are satisfied with the art he sold them, he believes. – I see the fact that 99 per cent of customers have not chosen to report as a term of honour. Or at least it’s nice that so many people are sitting on the fence and are happy with what they have, he says. Indicted for several matters In addition to being indicted for fraud, the police have also issued indictments for the following matters: Violation of the Art Tax Act. For keeping a car hidden from creditors. Breach of the Weapons Act, after the police found pepper spray at his home. Six cases of embezzlement. Hedemark himself believes that the police have misrepresented the case to the customers who have chosen to report. – Based on what I have read from the police interrogation, it seems that the customers have been slightly misled. These are customers who bought the pictures because they liked what they saw, and who have lived well with the paintings, until they were told otherwise, he believes. He looks forward to moving forward, and says that it is now up to a court to make the decision. – The police and I disagree, so it’s fine for a third party to look at the case. Then let’s hope that it falls in my favor. The court system is the court system, there is a winner and a loser, says Hedemark.
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John Erik “Werner Jensen” Hedemark will go on trial – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
