Northern (L)attitudes to open at Scandinavia House
Kill Plakat by Are Mokkelbost.
Contemporary Norwegian and American Artists Converge for Summer Exhibition at Scandinavia House in New York City
On view from May 29 – September 19, 2009, The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) will present Northern (L)attitudes: Contemporary Norwegian and American Art. A collection of photographs, paintings, videos and mixed media, this exhibition will celebrate the works of nine provocative contemporary artists (four American, five Norwegian) all of whom are ASF Fellowship recipients: Eric Aho, Marion Belanger, Lene Berg, Sandra Binion, Kjell Bjørgeengen, Ole Martin Lund Bø, Unn Fahlstrøm, Nina Katchadourian and Are Mokkelbost.
A transatlantic cross-pollination of concepts and mediums, Northern (L)attitudes explores how each country’s geography, environment and culture informs the work of the artist. The exhibition will highlight intersections of cultural exchange and how they occur.
As evident through their works, the American artists were clearly taken with Scandinavia’s flora and fauna, keenly observing and investigating its geography, climate, vegetation, and wildlife through paintings interpreting ice and forest, and photographs and video delineating landscape, rocks and animal behavior.
In contrast, the Norwegian artists are occupied with societal conventions and visceral intangibilities. During their time in the United States, these artists drew inspiration from politics, sound, and the visual rhetoric of power and color, among other things.
Edward Gallagher, President of The American-Scandinavian Foundation, stated, “Northern (L)attitudes offers an exciting look at the work of 9 very different artists, each of whom has received support from the ASF. This exhibition celebrates the ASF’s ongoing commitment to the visual arts as an important means for cultural exchange and international understanding.”
This exhibition is organized and presented by The American-Scandinavian Foundation and all of the artists received support from the ASF. The five Norwegian artists each spent a year’s residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York. The American artists pursued independent projects in the Nordic countries.
This exhibition is funded by The American-Scandinavian Foundation, with additional support from the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York.
Click here to read more about the artists.
OPENING RECEPTION (opened to the public): May 28 – Gallery Hours: Open Tuesday–Saturday, 12:00–6:00 p.m. May 29 – September 19 – Thanks to a generous grant, gallery admission is FREE. Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, 58 Park Avenue (btw. 37th & 38th), NYC Please call (212) 879-9779 for more information.
