Artist in residency: Zoe Jo Rae

SKOG’s first artist in residency, Zoe Jo Rae worked in our art space from 22 February to 12 March 2023.

According to Zoe the residency was all about the following:

Using SKOG as a studio for material experimentation, creating a series of artefacts that develop a culture of craft around waste materials of the Anthropocene. The intention is to highlight resourcefulness as a quiet form of activism, challenge our perception of ‘waste’ and question the role that craft practices could play in our future.

Material Resoursources:

1. The contents of the yellow ISekk bags that have become a standard object on Oslo’s streets.

2. As an Arborist I encounter less obvious waste in the form of wood from Oslo trees, this is chipped or at best used as firewood. Trees are living witnesses to the evolution of our urban landscape, offering a valuable resource and storytelling tool. The gathering of these materials will be documented photographically and has the potential to take on a ritual like quality, embedded with local knowledge.

Who is Zoe Jo Rae?

A British Interdisciplinary Designer and professional Arborist living in Oslo. Zoe studied Sustainable Design at Brighton University, graduating with ‘Hunter Gatherer in the Anthropocene’ - a project that became a manifesto for her professional practice. An upbringing in rural South West England provided a hands - on relationship with the outdoors along with a inclination to ‘make do and mend’, both remain fundamental elements of her identity and practice.

Zoe’s work is narrative based, employing animism and material innovation to create objects that trigger dialog and actions around cultural and environmental challenges. Working with Oslo’s trees - both in their living form and as a material resource - provide unique interactions with nature in the urban environment. Her interest in community and skill exchange has led to engagment in the development of local multi disciplinary spaces and cultural hubs such as Kroloftet.

Artist in residency: Zoe Jo Rae

Artist in residency: Takumi Morozumi

Motifs of Materiality