This year’s Hannah Ryggen Triennale takes the theme Anti-Monument as a point of departure to explore the famed textile artist’s legacy through the lens of 40 contemporary artists. For the first time since its initiation in 2016, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum collaborates with other key Trondheim institutions on the Triennale: Kunsthall Trondheim, Trondheim kunstmuseum, K-U-K, and Ørland/Bjugn Art Society.
The theme Anti-Monument takes its starting point in Hannah Ryggen’s tapestry We Are Living on a Star (1958), which was damaged in the right-wing terrorism attack in Oslo on July 22, 2011. The gash in the tapestry is a salient symbol of the loss of lives that must never be forgotten. The scarred artwork is an anti-monument; it comprises a negative space, a painfully charged void. The Triennale takes place in the wake of movements like Black Lives Matter and proposes a radical shift of form in the tradition of monuments and memorials, connecting to decolonial, feminist, and anti-hegemonic artistic practices.
The exhibitions constituting the Hannah Ryggen Triennale 2022 feature artists and works that can varyingly be seen in the light of Ryggen’s (1894–1970) legacy:
In Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum’s three-part main exhibition Anti-Monument, curated by Solveig Lønmo, 15 tapestries by Ryggen meet 15 international contemporary artists’ works, some of them made specifically for the Triennale. Through strong dialogues between an array of works, the exhibition suggests nuances that are valid without being carved in stone.
At Kunsthall Trondheim, the exhibition Unweaving the binary code, curated by Stefanie Hessler and Katrine Elise Pedersen, explores the influence of weaving on early computer history. Taking the legacy of mathematician Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) as a point of departure, 11 contemporary artists draw connections between the weft and warp of tapestries and the zeros and ones of code, and propose various ways to introduce glitches that undo the binaries of gender and other divides.
At Trondheim kunstmuseum’s site in Bispegata, an exhibition dedicated to Hege Lønne (1961–2018), curated by Marianne Zamecznik, presents the first retrospective of the Trondheim-born artist who was active in both Poland and Norway throughout her career. Nature was central to Lønne’s art, who used simple materials to create scenes for interpersonal exchange and spoke early on about climate change.
K-U-K presents two group exhibitions centered around the artists Julie Ebbing and Anne-Karin Furunes, both curated by Cathrine Hovdahl Vik. Power structures, identity, and social hierarchies are pervading themes in the two exhibitions, which both focus on gender in different ways.
A program of public events will accompany the exhibitions throughout the spring/summer, including a panel conversation in partnership with Posten Moderne on the future of art institutions in Trondheim and the importance of collaboration.
An exhibition catalogue co-published with Archive Books will be launched in the summer, including newly commissioned texts and documentation of the exhibitions.
Anti-Monument I, II, and III
Curator and producing institution: Solveig Lønmo, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum
March 25–August 14, 2022
Venues: TKM Gråmølna, The Hannah Ryggen Centre (from 26 March), and Austrått Manor (from 21 May)
Artists: Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland), Marsil Andjelov Al-Mahamid (Serbia/Norway), Anonymous (Afghanistan), Marit Helen Akslen (Norway), Jennie Bringaker (Norway), Jonas Dahlberg (Sweden), Anne-Karin Furunes (Norway), Matilde Westavik Gaustad (Norway), Arthur Jafa (USA), Veslemøy Lilleengen (Norway), Britta Marakatt-Labba (Sapmi), Marthe Minde (Norway), Per Kristian Nygård (Norway), Frida Orupabo (Norway), Hannah Ryggen (Sweden/Norway), Threads of Innovation (Norway/India), Anusheh Zia (UK)
Unweaving the binary code
Curators: Stefanie Hessler and Katrine Elise Pedersen
March 25–August 7, 2022
Venue: Kunsthall Trondheim
Artists: Mercedes Azpilicueta (Argentina/Netherlands), Charlotte Johannesson (Sweden), Ann Lislegaard (Norway/Denmark), Tabitha Nikolai (USA), Allison Parrish (USA), Thania Petersen (South Africa), Pearla Pigao (Norway), Hannah Ryggen (Sweden/Norway), Marilou Schultz (USA), Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley (UK/Germany), Himali Singh Soin (India/UK), Vaimaila Urale (Aotearoa)
Project exhibitions: Karin Aurora Lindell, Matilde Westavik Gaustad, Grete Neseblod (all Norway), with support of Posten Moderne.
Hege Lønne: Retrospective
Curator: Marianne Zamecznik
Venue: Trondheim kunstmuseum Bispegata
March 25–August 14, 2022
Artist: Hege Lønne (Norway/Poland)
Julie Ebbing and Hannah Ryggen Army
Curator: Cathrine Hovdahl Vik
Venue: K-U-K
March 25–May 22, 2022
Artists: Julie Ebbing (Norway), Marius Amdam (Norway), Magne Furuholmen (Norway), Einar Grinde (Norway), Yanir Shani (Israel/Norway), Aage Mikalsen and Mikkel Marhaug (Norway), Roald Andersen dy (Norway)
Anne-Karin Furunes
Curator: Cathrine Hovdahl Vik
Venue: K-U-K
June 11–August 21, 2022
Artist: Anne-Karin Furunes (Norway)
Marthe Minde
Triennale artist in residence
Venue: Galleri Hans
Organized by: Ørland/Bjugn Art Society and Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum
May 21–August 14, 2022
Artist: Marthe Minde (Norway)
The exhibitions are generously supported by our partners:
Bergesenstiftelsen
Fritt Ord
Olavsfest
Sparebank 1 SMN Samfunnsutbytte
Sparebankstiftelsen SMN
