Peter Fischli and David Weiss’ outdoor sculpture Rock on Top of Another Rock will be presented today on the plateau Valdresflya in the National Park Jotunheimen in Norway; it is one of fifteen works along tourist routes commissioned by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. This piece is literally one mammoth rock positioned on top of a larger one. In an interview with Kunstkritikk project manager Svein Rønning admits that the work was more difficult to accomplish than expected—with heavy equipment, planning, architects and engineers assisting: “We ended up using a 93 ton stone which was lifted by a crane brought from Bergen in six trailers.” Original article in Norwegian (20.9.12).
Only one Nordic artist, Guttorm Guttormsgaard (b. 1938), will be represented in South Korea’s Busan Biennale 2012. Harboring the theme “Garden of Learning” and curated by Roger Buergel, this exhibition is both a learning experience and a knowledge-building investigation. In collaboration with the inhabitants of Busan and South Korea, 42 artists attempt to answer questions such as “What does the public expect from a biennale?” Guttormsgaard will be exhibiting his own prints and drawings, a functioning camera obscura and items from his vast collection of cultural and artistic artefacts. Original article in Norwegian (19.9.12)
Coming to a close last Sunday, Documenta 13 in Kassel was visited by 860,000 documented viewers—one-third of which were less than 29 years old, proving that a young demographic had a significant presence. Artistic director Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev emphasizes that Documenta13 could be experienced in one day yet also has become a part of living culture, thanks to repeated visits which break apart a compressed sense of time—liberating both time and experience through art. Original article in Norwegian (17.9.12)
The Articulation of Protest, a mini-series at the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) began September 14 with speaker Rasmus Fleischer of the now extinct organization Piratbyrån, best known for launching the BitTorrent Pirate Bay in 2003. Fleischer expressed his concern over increased control over copyrighted material and referred to Piratbyrån as a platform for emerging political, artistic and technological debate. In a comprehensive interview with Kunstkritikk, Fleischer explains his views on the post-digital condition and his sentiments on anarchism: “I don’t identify myself with the term anarchism, but I don’t dissociate myself from it either. I see the copyright crisis as inseparable from the capitalism crisis we are in now. This is about structures that are impossible to repair and structures that will soon collapse.” Original article in Norwegian (17.9.12)
Critiques from this week include: Jesper Olsson on the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Cage exhibition and concert series Mer än ljud (“More than sound”) at Bonniers Konsthall and Drottningholms Slottsteater, Stockholm; Stian Gabrielsen on the exhibition H. H. Bennett, Lena Henke and Cars at the artist-run gallery 1857, Oslo; Tommy Olsson on Ane Lan’s performance Circle at Vigeland Museum, Oslo and Hans Carlsson on the group exhibition Hembyg(g)d at Marabouparken, Stockholm.
