Toril Johannessen and Tue Greenfort: NORSK NATUR

What does nature mean to you? Is it a place for recreation, or meditation? Is it somewhere you can relax, get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Or is it something you measure your strength against, that lets you confront your fears?

For the exhibition NORSK NATUR, Toril Johannessen and Tue Greenfort started out by hiking to the mountain cabin of the philosopher Arne Næss on Hallingskarvet. One of their topics of conversation was ecosophy—a perspective that treats all life as valuable and the world as a single holistic entity. NORSK NATUR presents artistic reflections on the natural landscape and ecosystems and how these relate to the economy and to state institutions. The title suggests a specific view of nature, as something owned and defined by the nation. Yet the focus of the exhibition is not on Norwegian nature as traditionally conceived, but on nature in all its institutionalised, aestheticised, capitalised and systematised forms.

NORSK NATUR can be regarded as an ecosystem with artworks as organisms. It takes us into a system where everything is interconnected. The works share a common framework in the site-specific and relational artwork Open / Close. The artists invite us to open doors onto the experience of art. The works converse with each other about themes such as energy and balance in ecosystems. Contemporary art is about the time in which we live, its politics and problems. When we approach it with openness and curiosity we stand to gain insights and unexpected ways of seeing the world.

What are your expectations in going to see Norwegian nature at the museum?

The artists met exhibiting at dOCUMENTA 13, 2012, and connected through the ideas in ther work. In composing NORSK NATUR the artists Toril Johannessen and Tue Greenfort has developed cooperative projects, new artworks and decided on some previously shown works. A catalogue follows the exhibition, with essays by Jairus Grove, Randi Godø and Siv Hofsvang.

Curator exhibition: Randi Godø
Curator education: Siv Hofsvang
Project manager: Lita Ellingsen