Nordic Fragments: Exploring the Essence of the North

Lasted from Saturday, March 9 to
Sunday, April 7, 2024

The following artists participated in the exhibition:

Malin Pierre (SE), Vidar Ericsson (SE), Jens Thygesen (DK), Camilla Kunckel (DK), Ari Pyörälä (FI), Einar Grinde (NO), Amalie Skarpeid (NO).

Welcome to "Nordic Fragments," an exhibition that delves into the essence of the Nordic region through the lens of fragmented narratives, landscapes, and cultural motifs. Embark on a journey with us through the Nordic craftsmanship, and transformative power of art.

We are proud to present a mosaic of artistic expressions and forms that reflect small pieces of the cultural heritage of the Nordic countries.

Malin Pierre, a Swedish visual artist, crafts organic glass sculptures inspired by haute couture and the juxtaposition of softness with hardness. Driven by an intense curiosity for materials, she approaches her work with spontaneity and exploration. Pierre is fascinated by how materials appear and behave, particularly their transition from soft to hard. Her abstract shapes and structures, reminiscent of soft textiles, are born from original fabric creations. Through her sculptures, Pierre captures the essence of sewing art and voluminous upholstery, embodying the contradictions of glass as an amorphous solid suspended between liquid and solid states.

Einar Grinde works and lives in Trondheim. Grinde works mostly with Installation and sculpture. Through his practice Grinde explores themes as symbolism of power, class and history.  In the last years he has worked around themes around the symbol horse. In his structures Grinde often uses mundane materials. Materials we touch daily but discard.

In his art, Ari Pyörälä explores the forms found in nature, the vibrant spectrum of colors, the passage of time, and the captivating microcosms of memories. With a profound interest in materials, he sees potential for artistic expression in every element surrounding him. Each material, whether familiar or new, serves as a source of inspiration, igniting his imagination and allowing it to soar. By keeping the creative process open and receptive, Pyörälä allows each material to communicate its desired form, resulting in creations that surpass his initial dreams. He finds great joy in mixing materials, and his passion lies in manipulating structure, colors, and concealing the origins of materials within his artworks.

Jens Thygesen envisions himself embarking on a journey to distant lands, guided by a mysterious wayfinder. Carrying a sealed container, he anticipates that its contents will eventually find their way out. Most importantly, Thygesen carries a switch, the activation of which will inevitably set something into motion. His narrative hints at a journey filled with anticipation, mystery, and the unknown, symbolizing the human experience of venturing into the unfamiliar.

Amalie Skarpeid is an artist currently studying at Kunstakademiet in Trondheim. She has previously exhibited at Kjøpmannsgata Ung Kunst in Trondheim, Galler KiT at Kunstakademiet and at Skog’s 2022 Christmas exhibition X-Art. She specialises in natural motives in painting. Some of these paintings draw inspiration on subjects found in the Nordic. This will not be the first time she exhibits with fellow Nordic artists and shows her art in a fellow artistic landscape.

Vidar Ericsson's paintings are characterized by his obsession with color and material. His work delves into the realm of abstract painting, combining larger, opaque monochromatic surfaces with swift brushstrokes to create a lighter expression. Ericsson's paintings evoke memories and subconscious associations, inviting viewers to interpret them through their own experiences

Camilla Kunckel is a Danish textile artist currently studying at Oslo National Academy of The Arts in Oslo.

Her main method of expression centers around the collage. In these works, she joins new and previously used fibers in combination with non-textile materials in an unconventional contemporary way, merging a range of different classical techniques such as plant dyeing, spinning, embroidery and weaving.

The abstract imagery of her work contains a sensitive and poetic quality shaped by her relation to nature and events in her daily life.