Sweet Norway

Curious sweet curiosities of Norway. I always enjoy looking at the local delicacies of another country and the branding and packaging of lollies and junk food. Norway has a great selection of retro packaged sweets that often translate humorously.

Geek Crafts

After years of searching through the inner chaos I think I have finally found something to latch on to. It is http://geekcrafts.com/ Browse, enjoy, and relish geek craft.

There IS a square for me in the rubiks cube of life!

Ministry of Culture grant recipients for 2008.

Relief carving of Albertina, a prostitute from the 19th century that was depicted in many paintings and murals as well as written about by well known Norwegian authors.

Work on the left by Ole Lislerud

View of exhibition held at The Oslo City Hall.

Oslo Ceramics @ Galleri FORMAT

Work by Stine Walderhaug

Jim Darbu, Who wants to live forever, 2009.

Jim Darbu and his work Same old day, different shit, 2008.

Professor Ole Lislerud giving a lively speech at the Opening of Oslo Ceramics. I have no idea what he said, as it was all in Norwegian, but I heard later that he was mainly praising the artists for their unique approach to the medium of ceramics.

On the 20th Jan I attended an exhibition opening titled Oslo Ceramics including KHIO talent Jim Darbu http://www.jimdarbu.com/. Now here is the work of someone with a great imagination! Gotta love that room temperature glaze. Jim has a unique way of working with acrylic spray on paints and car paint. A great way to push the boundaries of ceramics.

The group Oslo Ceramics comprises of 5 artists working in the ceramic medium. They are all recent graduates that share a passion for expressing themselves with the ceramic medium but not afraid to incorporate unconventional techniques.

The exhibition was held @ Galleri Format http://www.format.no/

This is a gallery that specialises in showcasing the best from the arts & crafts scene. It is funded by the Norwegian Association of Arts and Crafts (NK) that is in turn supported by the Ministry of Culture. The NK organisation supports professional experience within the areas of ceramics, textiles, metal, wood, glass, and leather.

Arne Aase

Ole Lislerud, Ignis - Bybrann Monument Skansekaia, Aalesund, Norway, 2005.

Knut Natvik, Form, 1995.

As most of you aware, I am in Scandinavia for 6mths on exchange at the Kunsthogskolen i Oslo internationally known as The Oslo National Academy of the Arts http://www.khio.no/ or simply known by the locals as KHIO. I am in the presence of great professors and tutors such as Ole Lislerud http://www.olelislerud.com/, Arne Aase http://www.arneaase.com, Haico Nietzsche, and Knut Natvik. I am using their expertise to follow up my past research into ceramic enamel colours and printing on clay techniques. In the past few weeks I have been observing the students making decals and applying designs on glazed surfaces with enamels both oil and water based. I am also working towards an exhibition so have been furiously making molds while chatting away to Arne Aase about his current research into mineral fertilizers as a way of increasing transparency on a clay body. His research is still in its infancy and many students are experimenting with it and achieving exciting and promising results that could revolutionise the world of porcelain and transparency. Anyway, stay tuned for more info on the topic.

I have concocted a project for myself based on the Norwegian landscape. My room in the Kringsja student housing project overlooks the Sognsvann Lake and surrounding woodland even though I am only 15min by train from the city centre. Sitting here by the window and looking out at the large snowflakes drift to the ground seems like a fairytale reality. I am also engrossed in re-watching Twin Peaks, so the woods are truly alive for me at the moment!. I am creating a dreamscape narrative that will protrude from the wall using found objects and a 2D composition on the wall. It may sound like I have the project fastidiously planned out but they are all just fragments of ideas in my mind at the moment. Anyway, it has been 4weeks now and I am over the plaster making hurdle and can now focus my creativity on the materialisation of these threads of ideas. It is a true luxury to have this time to realise the potential of my ideas!