ART CITIES:Oslo-Norsk Natur

In the exhibition “Norsk Natur”, Toril Johannessen and Tue Greenfort join their forces to discuss nature. The exhibition is the second in the series of Museum of Contemporary Art in Oslo in which younger Norwegian artists exhibit in dialogue with international colleagues. The artist have engaged in an intense conversation to present a combination of existing and new works developed specially for the exhibition, some collaboratively, some individually.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Museum of Contemporary Art Oslo

The exhibition “Norsk Natur” presents Toril Johannessen’s and Tue Greenfort’s artistic reflections on the natural landscape and ecosystems and how these relate to the economy and to state institutions. The title initially seems to refer to a traditional conception of Norwegian nature as wild, beautiful and pristine, but the exhibition challenges and expands upon this notion. The focus of the exhibition is thus not on Norwegian nature as traditionally conceived, but on nature in all its institutionalised, aestheticised, capitalised and systematised forms. For this exhibition, the artist started out by hiking to the mountain cabin of the philosopher Arne Næss on Hallingskarvet. One of their topics of conversation was Næss’ ecosophy, which views all life as valuable and the world as a single holistic entity. The artists have envisioned the exhibition as an ecosystem with artworks as individuals. It starts with the Norwegian title “norsk natur”, which is transformed into a logo that features on a banner on the museum façade. The site-specific, relational work “Åpne/lukke” encompasses the other works like an ecosystem. Here the artists invite us to open the doors of the former bank building and to embark on a voyage of discovery from one room to the next. The works we encounter converse with each other about themes such as energy and balance in ecosystems. The works in the exhibition are multi-faceted and bring together an array of narratives. Similar themes recur in different works.

Info: Curator: Randi Godø, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Bankplassen 4, Oslo, Duration: 17/9/16-15/1/17, Days & Hours: Tue-Wed & Fri 11:00-17:00, Thu 11:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-19:00, www.nasjonalmuseet.no