To mark the 50th anniversary of the Norwegian Association for Craft Artists (Norske Kunsthåndverkere), gallery for contemporary art in Oslo Nitja has invited a selection of influential and forward-thinking artists to take part in a large exhibition. The selected works span from 1975 to today, making connections across generations. Iconic pieces by established artists are shown alongside new approaches from a younger generation, offering a chance to see how small, wearable objects can embody bold artistic ideas.
One of the three curators, Monica Holmen, explains: ‘The exhibition presents a total of 39 artists. These artists were chosen because they are important in an exhibition about art jewellery; some were selected for their curiosity about materials and their experimental approaches, while others were chosen because we believed they would be surprising in a context like this.’
In a Norwegian context, as Holmen points out, there have been remarkably few exhibitions that focus exclusively on art jewellery: ‘This is probably due to many factors, which we don’t want to speculate too much about. Perhaps it’s related to the functional aspect that the field of craft has at times tried to distance itself from, or perhaps it’s due to the often very small formats of jewellery, which undeniably present challenges in terms of presentation.
We hope that the exhibition will offer some surprising elements for both those within the art world and a broader audience: combinations of artists, the selection of works, and new connections across generations and artistic expressions. A wider audience might also be fascinated by the range of wearable art and the experimental forms it represents.
Finally, the exhibition may present some unexpected choices that challenge the consensus, a logical consequence of the exhibition taking place at a centre for contemporary art rather than a museum, with all the freedom that entails.’
The three curators behind this project, Olaf Tønnesland Hodne, Monica Holmen, and Elise Storsveen, approached the exhibition design from a fresh and unexpected perspective. Challenged by the question of how best to present art jewellery, the trio carried the functional aspect into the development of the exhibition design and architecture through a simple question: Where do most people keep their jewellery?
‘In the bathroom. The exhibition design is therefore a conceptualisation of this: a grid of tiles and grout lines evokes associations with a bathroom, and stylised imitations of sinks function as display cases,’ adds Holmen.
‘The exhibition presents both artists who have been productive over many years, as well as artists who, for various reasons, are no longer active, and younger artists who don’t yet have much work to show. For us, it has been important to present these side by side, and in doing so challenge consensus and hierarchy, and highlight what is interesting about the artworks themselves.’
When asked about the process of developing a retrospective group exhibition like this, Holmen admits that it was both extremely demanding and great fun, as well as educational for all three curators: ‘We each have different backgrounds and experiences from Norwegian cultural life, yet the learning curve has been steep for all of us.
From early on, we knew that the functional aspect should lead the development of the exhibition concept. Art that can be used has been a premise throughout the entire process and has guided many of our decisions. That also led to the choice of art jewellery.
We knew that narrowing it down to art jewellery would present challenges. But at the same time, by narrowing the focus to art jewellery, a treasure trove (a jewellery box, if you will) of an incredibly exciting field opened up. We’ve dived into a wealth of techniques, gained insight into an enormous and impressive knowledge of materials, and have time and again been engaged by strongly conceptual and narrative artworks — which art jewellery certainly exemplifies.
The exhibition presents both artists who have been productive over many years, as well as artists who, for various reasons, are no longer active, and younger artists who don’t yet have much work to show. Several of the pieces are “young” in the sense that they were created early in the artists’ careers. For us, it has been important to present these side by side, and in doing so challenge consensus and hierarchy, and highlight what is interesting about the artworks themselves.’
The exhibition Nearness: art jewellery and wearable ideas is open from 6 September to 19 October and includes works by artists: Kyrre Andersen, Kevin Axelsson, Christian Backer-Owe, Tove Becken, Millie Behrens, Toril Bjorg, Inger Blix Kvammen, Erik Blomqvist, Liv Blåvarp, Sigurd Bronger, Karen Disen, Helene Duckert, Gry Eide, Kristine Ervik, Emil Gustafsson, Ingjerd Hanevold, Elsie-Ann Hochlin, Camilla Luihn, Morten Kleppan, Synnøve Korssjøen, Jorge Manilla, Konrad Mehus, Nanna Melland, Louise Nippierd, Sayo Ota, Ari Pyörälä, Kirsti Reinsborg Grov, Ingvild Reinton Felis, Ella Heidi Sand, Máret Ánne Sara, Philipp Spillmann, Thisbe Stadler, Leif Stangebye-Nielsen, Lars Sture, Anna Talbot, Ahmed Umar, Felieke van der Leest, Tone Vigeland, Dariusz Wojdyga.
You can read more about the exhibition and public programme here.
Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art is a dynamic institution rooted in its local community while engaging with an international art scene. The centre presents and produces contemporary art of the highest quality, with a strong focus on emerging voices, social responsibility, and inclusive audience experiences. With an ambitious exhibition programme, dedicated initiatives within mental health and education, and an active commitment to public engagement, Nitja has established itself as a vital platform in the field of contemporary art.
Thanks to:
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Northern Norwegian Art Museum, the National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, KODE Bergen, Kunstmuseet i Nord-Trøndelag, Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum, RidduduottarMuseat, Oslo communes kunstsamling, Akershus County, Beate Vigeland, Jorunn Veiteberg, Hege Dahlgren, Kristin Bråthen, Grete Riis-Johannesen, Gro Hillestad Thune.
The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Norwegian Association for Craft Artists, and is curated by Olaf Tønnesland Hodne, Monica Holmen, and Elise Storsveen.
