Norsk Inspirasjoner & hyggelig

Objects In the Rear View Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

Time to take time out to take care of the spirit, and recharge my batteries, go back to the start and get back on track again.

A break to catch A-ha for old times' sake in Oslo, as they were the reason I wanted to become an artist, so whenever I feel like giving up, or that I've been given up by the stupid world, I'm glad they're back again, and it's been so good to reconnect to times when I had thought there would be opportunities on the horizon.

And there were invites to visit Magne Furuholmen's upcoming sculpture park at Fornebuporten - Fornebuparken  - More info here

Magne Furuholmen's Imprints work and ambitious new sculpture park Fornebuparken

Stian Andersen's Kollect: ICONS exhibition at PopUp gallery in Oslo caused me to have a Munch moment.

Stian asked if I was there for work - I wasn't sure - I was on a break, I haven't really done any A-ha or Apparatjik work since 2013 for several reasons. 

So I said I was and wasn't. I'm not getting paid for this trip after all - yet.
It's the first time I've been to Oslo without funding or sponsorship, so it does feel very odd.
I felt a bit Munch at one point.

Stian Andersen ICONS

But I had plans to visit the Nobel Peace Centre to see The Tunisia Method and Syria Is My Only Home, along with Peace Cloud perhaps for inspiration for the peace painting project. 

Malala Yousafza

Syria Is My Only Home

I also really wanted to visit The AFM again and find the Jeff Koons Michael Jackson sculpture that I missed the first time, and I had to go and see Mike Bouchet's Top Cruise and Matthew Barney.

Ida Ekblad - Political Song For Jessica Simpson To Sing, 2007

Ida Ekblad's "Political Song For Jessica Simpson To Sing", 2007, and Lizzi Bougatsos' reappropriated Wella shampoo ad photo print made me think about how Stian invited me to take photos of his work (stuff the V&A!).

Lizzi Bougatsos - Untitled

There was even a young girl with braces that looked like the girl in the image, and I lament not asking for a photo of her in front of the piece...

Mike Bouchet, Top Cruise

Lastly, after flight delays ruined my plan to visit Ekebergparken, I made time to spend an hour for a brief visit before getting my flight back to London. 

Ekebergparken

The view from Ekebergparken

Skrik!

Reputed to be the location where Munch was inspired to paint The Scream, there were views over the Oslofjord, where I'd planned to spend more time sitting and sketching, but I didn't have enough time for that, so I took photos of as many of the sculptures as I could before reluctantly going home.

My visit was punctuated by the hotel strike in Oslo, which disrupted plans....

Am I working? Well that always depends on whether I get paid or some kind of opportunity to create new work, because if I'm paying to do it, I'm not working, I'm probably angry and frustrated, and Munch.