Step into the light New art festival Fjord Oslo reveals its inaugural programme of installations set to brighten the city Harbour Promenade, Oslo 1–3 November 2019 Constellations by Joanie Lemercier, photography by Kyle McDonald.From the swirling steel geometries of László Moholy-Nagy’s 1923 sculpture Light-Space Modulator to Dan Flavin’s neon interventions in Milan’s Chiesa Rossa church, light has long been an exciting medium for boundary-pushing artists. For three days in November, the debut edition of Fjord Oslo will bring together some of the leading light artists practising today, fusing technology and creativity to create an array of spine-tingling experiences, open to all. Fjord Oslo will transform the capital’s Harbour Promenade into an expansive outdoor exhibition, where the people of Oslo can come together to enjoy contemporary art in an inclusive and welcoming environment. Ranging from visual poetry about a love affair with the moon to an exploration of the four elements of nature, the artworks featured are astonishingly varied. All explore ideas about nature and our environment, including a new work by French light artist Joanie Lemercier and techno producer Paul Jebanasam that projects images of the cosmos onto a fine spray of water particles. Fjord Oslo will be packed with technical innovation and conceptual rigour, the aim is to encourage contemplation without demanding prior knowledge. The festival will bring the people of Oslo together – however, engaged with the contemporary art scene they are – in a powerful collective experience, inspired by art and light. |
| Le Bal des Luminéoles by Christophe Martine, photography by Porté par le Vent. Oslo has been named European Green Capital 2019, in recognition of the city’s demonstrable dedication to the green agenda, including the ongoing conservation of its natural areas and the restoration of its waterway network. An official partner of European Green Capital, Fjord Oslo’s curatorial theme reflects this context: each work contemplates our responsibility for the environment, our relationship with nature and our place on the planet. “Fjord Oslo was founded with a wish to create a positive, inclusive, social and open cultural event for everyone in the city of Oslo, inviting the public to what we hope will be an inspiring experience of wonder and reflection. By locating our festival in the Harbour Promenade, we hope to highlight Oslo’s unique position as a modern city, and our lasting connection with nature, while promoting Oslo as a vibrant, welcoming and contemporary art capital.” – Anastasia Isachsen, founder and artistic director, Fjord OsloThe festival’s artistic director has commissioned some of the world’s most accomplished artists – an international line-up of talent from countries including France, Estonia, Russia, and Hungary. The works include audiovisual technology, multimedia, interactive sculpture, electronic soundscapes and touchscreens. Private Moon by Leonid Tishkov, photography by Leonid Tishkov. The artworks Installed at different locations along Oslo’s Harbour Promenade in the areas of Aker Brygge, Town Hall Square and Akershusstranda on 1–3 November 2019, the inaugural programme’s highlights include: Constellations by Joanie Lemercier and Paul Jebanasam (Belgium and UK) Stranden/Aker Brygge French light artist Joanie Lemercier’s practice has explored and expanded the possibilities of light as a medium for the past 10 years through video mapping, live shows and gallery installations. In Constellations, he turns a spray of water particles into a canvas, painting in the air with projected light. Monochromatic 3D shapes emerge and flow like a journey through the cosmos, black holes and the edges of the universe, accompanied by an electronic soundscape created by Bristol-based producer Paul Jebanasam. Le Bal des Luminéoles by Porté par le Vent (France) City Hall Square/Akerhusstranda Porté par le Vent (‘Carried by the wind’) is a company dedicated to creating animations and installations that explore the themes of wind and light. Founder Christophe Martine’s first love was paragliding, which eventually paved the way to his creative kite workshops, before he formed Porté par le Vent. For Fjord Oslo he presents an airborne ballet of kites, conjuring an ethereal fairytale world from the interplay of wind, light and sound. Elemento by Caspar Lootsman (Estonia) Bryggetorget/Aker Brygge Estonian landscape photographer Caspar Lootsman specialises in shooting the natural world in a way that puts light at the centre of each image. For Fjord Oslo he creates an interactive installation which explores the four elements of nature – earth, fire, air and water – encouraging his audience to engage with them physically, by means of a touchscreen, and psychologically, by venturing out into nature more often. Private Moon by Leonid Tishkov (Russia) In Harbour Basin Russian artist Leonid Tishkov started his career making cartoon-like works in the 1980s that focused on ironic, black humor and politics. Since the beginning of the 1990s his work has moved increasingly towards large-scale installations that aim to engage the viewer into absurdist situations with fictional cartoon characters, theatrical action and reflections on his homeland, the Urals. During the festival Leonid brings his globetrotting mobile light project to Norway. Private Moon is a visual poem that tells the story of a man’s lifelong relationship with our neighbouring satellite. Since 2003, Leonid has taken his moon on a never-ending journey around the world, from Japan to the US, New Zealand to the Arctic Circle – and now to the Oslo harbourside. A new commission by Bordos.Artworks (Hungary) Oslo City Hall Fjord Oslo sees the world premiere of a new installation by Hungarian artist László Zsolt Bordos, an internationally recognised pioneer in architectural projection mapping. Developed for the facade of Oslo’s red-brick city hall, the installation will be an abstract, large-scale production using holographic projections and video. Full festival details as and when released can be found at fjordoslo.com. Le Bal des Luminéoles by Christophe Martine, photography by Porté par le Vent. |
