Since the 1980s, Norwegian video art has gone from being a marginal art form to a dominant discipline. PARADOX: Positions in Norwegian Video Art 1980–2010 traces the development of video art, from an innovative technique in the late 1970s through to its present-day incorporation in the field of digital art—from being a conceptual and technical idiom to a postmodern form of expression that is integrated digitally with related techniques such as film and photography. Are there identifiable qualities specific to video art that has endured despite rapid technological advances? In what areas has video as a medium had an impact on Norwegian art? How did the video medium evolve between 1980 and 2010 in Norwegian art?

The exhibition draws primarily on the National Museum’s own collection. The exhibition is divided into eight thematic sub-categories, their headings referring to crucial intersections between technological and art-historical developments of relevance to video art: “A conceptual foundation – Self-reflexivity and time,” “The material dimension – Sound and image,” “The formal dimension – Composition and time,” “The virtual – An expansive medium,” “Performance – Time and context,” “Identity –Staging and role-play,” “A shift towards film – Documentary and fiction” and “Poetic narrative –The mediated image.”

Participating artists include Kristin Bergaust, Kjell Bjørgeengen, Morten Børresen, A K Dolven, Unn Fahlstrøm, Matias Faldbakken, Bodil Furu, Marit Følstad, Mai Hofstad Gunnes, Jason Havneraas, Marianne Heske, Narve Hovdenakk, Lars Lauman, Lotte Konow Lund, Jannicke Låker, Per Maning, Elisabeth Mathisen, Trine Lise Nedreaas, Ole Jørgen Ness, Sven Påhlsson, Kjartan Slettemark, Per Teljer, Jeremy Welsh and Knut Åsdam.

Opening concert by Vanilla Riot (N/NL/SI) at 18h.

Concurrent public programme:
Sunday, 24 February, 15–16h
Live Video
Performance by video artist Kjell Bjørgeengen and musicians Keith Rowe and John Tilbury

Sunday, 10 March, 15–16h
Performance by Fine Art Union

Thursday, 11 April, 17–19h
“A Shift in Filmic Expression,” Artists Bodil Furu and Jason Havneraas in discussion with art historian Susanne Østby Sæther

Thursday, 6 June 17.30–19h 
From Image to Data
Lecture by Ingrid Hoelzl, Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Media and Communication, UiO

Further programme will be announced on www.nasjonalmuseet.no.

The exhibition is curated by Eva Klerck Gange and accompanied by a bilingual catalogue with essays by Jeremy Welsh and Eva Klerck Gange.

For images and further information please view www.nasjonalmuseet.no or contact Eva Amine Engeset, eva.engeset@nasjonalmuseet.no / T +47 46 95 01 02.

This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of Fritt Ord.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.