Eirik Falckner & Trude Westby Nordmark

The exhibition with Eirik Falckner and Trude Westby Nordmark took place at SKOG from 21 September to 15 October 2023. Falckner and Nordmark transformed the art space into a fictional ecosystem of organic forms, alien, but with recognizable forms from our nature. The ceramicists installed sculptures on the floor on dried seaweed. On the walls they hung some smaller series of sculptures made by each artist.

Trude Westby Nordmark. Photo: Hilde Jordbruen

Inspirations and Collaboration between the Artists

Eirik and Trude first met at the Center for Ceramic Art in Ringebu, where they have both exhibited and held artist residencies.

“The Devourer” by Eirik Falckner and Trude Westby Nordmark (Photo: E. Falckner)

Both artists have a strong relationship with nature, which is reflected in their work. Both challenge clay's properties and surfaces in the search for an expression that both attracts and repels. Bodily forms, biological systems and networks infiltrate each other. Both of the artists work with installations and direct the gallery space to give a holistic experience to the public.

Eirik Falckner: Uten tittel

The sea is a common denominator in art of both of them. The mysterious and more incomprehensible aspects of nature are a driving force in their works.

When they decided to work together, they wanted to create a collaborative project, where they not only collaborate thematically, but also by physically creating sculptures together.

Together they produce sculptures. One of the artists start building on a form that the other continues on without discussion or interference. Both of them have a working method where the sculptures take shape with minimal planning or sketching. In this way, they want to challenge each other's idioms in order to arrive at a new common expression.

Eirik Falckner

Falckner (b. 1995) lives and works in Bergen, where in 2021 he obtained a bachelor's degree in art at the Faculty of Art, Music and Design at the University of Bergen. Falckner has exhibited his works at, among others, Kraft, Kunsthall Grenland, Bærum Kunsthall and Galleri Fjalar. His works have been purchased for private collections. Falckner received a three-year artist grant from Norske Kunsthåndverkere in 2022.

Erik Falckner in cooperation with Tetra90

Trude Westby Nordmark

Nordmark (b. 1969) is a Norwegian artist based in Oslo. She earned her Masters in Ceramics from Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 1996 and has received multiple grants. Nordmark has exhibited globally and completed public art commissions both in Norway and internationally. She's been an artist-in-residence in Japan, China, and Mali, leading to museum shows. Her works are in collections such as The National Museum in Oslo and Shiwan Ceramic Museum in China.

Trude Westby Nordmark. Photo: Hilde Jordbruen

The artists. Photo by Brian Noguera-Gabrielli

Artists have received support from BKV.