Galleri Trine

20.Nov 2010 - 23.Jan 2011 I am showing my most recent paintings at Kube Art museum in the centre of Ålesund, my hometown. This is a large exhibition in many senses. My 15 paintings are shown together with the installations of Lorraine Aaron. We have both worked around the theme "promised land". I have dealt with the subjectmatter in a direct way, rather than a philosophical way. The exhibition also presents a series of portraits. Here the portrayed are being made anonymous by both their clothing and surroundings. Yet I have attempted to portray them as who they are, and how I see them.

"Break IV" reflected in Lorraine Aarons manipulated vault.

The mirrors inside the vault gives the room endeless dimentions. It also allows the paintings to blend in with the sculptures. This creates anything from a cool effect.... to an aspect bound for contemplatation.

Two artists working around the same theme are occationally ecco each other. Lorraine´s piece "Migration" play well against my "Promise II". This section of the gallery consists mainly of my large paintings, with the solo sculpture in the middle of the floor. All the work here is domintated by a sense of space, strength, religousness. The gallery room har a cathedral-like atmosphere that makes an impact on the work shown there.

Bird elements are present in several of sculptures and paintings in "Promised land".

Four portraits make up the portrait gallery.

There are many portrait galleries around the place. National heritage and portraiture through history are here on display to the public. Wandering through a portrait gallery can be rather tedious with room after room of pompous men with hats. Much can be read into such a collection and the selections made. It defines who is considered important, and who is not. The presentation of the gallery can be used politically. It can state who we should look up to, and make grounds for a common identity. The selection and purpose of the gallery can also be arranged arround different consepts. Examples of this is: nationalism, diversity, dialogues, exploring boundaries of portraiture etc.

My portrait gallery is old fashioned and dramatic lit. It shows four very different people that somehow has an influence on my life as an artist and member of the society. I have chosen to portray these people because they hold a position. None of them are dressed in their private clothes, but they are uniformed by the same kind of track suits that people seeking asylum in Norway, are handed upon arrival. So there u go; a portrait gallery with a bit of a twist.

Having painted human beings into my pictures for years I have taken the step into portraiture. To "use" a model in a painting is about placing somebody in a tableau. The person is there to play a role the same way an actor steps out of himself and enters his character. Yet the actor is chosen for the role due to his abilities, characteristics, and (often) his fame.
When making a portrait the challenges are quite different. Naturally the portrayed person has to look like her/him. External features and characteristics are vital. Yet the portrait has the role of describing the person in focus. Who is he/she? What is his/her status, personality and aura? In other words; you attempt to sum up the person you wish to portray.

Anne Standal is the head of Aalesund art association, and a great person to portray.

This is a painting I have been working on for a very long time. Propably as long as three years on and of. The painting has changed a lot through this time, but my idea of the rythmical repetation of the figure, the birds legs, and the strings stayed with me throughout the process. It is a large painting 150 x 120 cm. I will be showing this at my exhibition "Promissed land" at Kube art museum in Ålesund.

"Nobody", Oil on canvas 150 cm x 120 cm, 2010

I have been working om two paintings for the exhibition I am participating in at Galleri Ramfjord, Oslo, 2009. The figures are perched on a wire. Like birds. Like humans.

One of two paintings. Painted for the exhibition at Galleri Ramfjord August 2009. Oil on canvas. 120 x 120 cm

One of two paintings made for the exhibition at Galleri Ramsfjord August 2009. Oil on canvas 150 x 150 cm