Archive for category Art, culture and literature
Must-see exhibition at Soli Brug, Sarpsborg
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on August 28, 2010
Hariton Pushwagner
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, News on August 28, 2010
Today was the opening of the Pushwagner exhibition at Soli Brug (on until 5 Sep). Pushwagner, real name Terje Brofos, was born in Oslo in 1940. One of the most acclaimed, and controversial, contemporary Norwegian artists, Pushwagner is known for his colourful yet dark pop art tableaux inspired by city life. The office, commuters, tall buildings and cars are recurring themes in his work, in which distorted perspectives, repetition, and primary colours are used to striking effect to depict a modern society in which the individual has all but disappeared.
Educated at the National Arts & Crafts School, and then the National Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo, he has also studied/lived in London, Stockholm, NYC and Paris. Pushwagner won back the rights to his drawings from Morten Dreyer, his former agent and benefactor, after a high profile court case in Oslo in 2009. Pushwagner, who in 1998 was homeless and struggling with drug addiction, had ceded the rights well under their market value. Dreyer was asked to return all artwork, estimated at a value of 30 million kroner, and pay one million kroner in compensation.
More info on Pushwagner at www.pushwagner.no
Busters Notater
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on August 22, 2010
Today is Photography Day here in Norway, so I thought I’d post a link to a great local photo blog I’ve been following for a while now: http://bustersnotater.blogspot.com/
Buster, a bit like Elusive Moose, would rather remain anonymous, and let his photos do the talking, although he kindly agreed to answer a few questions I put to him earlier (see below). In a nutshell, though: Buster lives in Fredrikstad, he is passionate about photography, and he is very talented. The photos on his blog can be of anything, from abstract rocks and water shots to flowers, pets, family members, buildings, you name it. He also likes fun compositions (often with a witty pun as a title – although that will be lost on my non-Norwegian speaking readers). Photos that make you think, and/or giggle! Great stuff!
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Buster, I’m impressed with your pix, and I suspect you might be a pro. Tell the truth…
I have some education in photography, and I had photography for a living years ago. Now I’m an amateur photographer like anyone else.
What kind of camera(s) do you use?
I usually use a Canon 5D with a telephoto lens when doing pics for the blog. I recently bought a compact Olympus-camera. When I learn to be friends with it, I hope that’s going to be my number one.
What are your favourite motives?
My favourite subjects are people. I don’t show much of them in the blog, though. And of course I love taking pictures at Hvaler and everywhere I can find the combination of stone and water. I like to play with words and humour, and you can find many of my favourite pics under the label ‘Jiiiha’.
And the best places to shoot in Østfold?
A 10-minute walk from Vikerhavn on Asmaløy, Hvaler, you can see the horizon and get the most beautiful light in sunset. Amazing.
Why did you start this blog?
I have no intentions of making money or change the world. The blog is a way for me to keep my mind occupied. It’s like therapy. The name ‘Busters notater’ is taken from a book called ‘BusteR BrenneR’ by Jan Erik Vold, by the way. He writes short stories that at first glance have no meaning.
From Mexico to Norway – Ana Luisa Rébora
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on July 15, 2010
Another local artist whose work I love. I was actually very tempted to buy one of her paintings at the exhibition she had at Soli Brug, Sarpsborg, a couple of years ago – it was a rather big painting of a group of people by what looked like a huge waterfall, in shades of blue, browns and white – reminded me of Gullfoss in Island, very atmospheric, and just beautiful! Only the price tag (around 10,000Kr if I remember correctly) stopped me 
Anyway… When I say local artist I mean an artist based here, by the way, because Ana Luisa comes from Mexico originally, but Norway has been her home for the past 10 years – she now lives in Eidsberg, Indre-Østfold, although she still spends the winter in Mexico whenever she can. Her husband grows and sells organic Christmas trees, while she paints in her studio. Check out her work at www.analuisarebora.com or even better, visit her exhibition at Gallery Stallen in Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad, which is on until 30 July.
Norway’s premiere on 23 July in Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on July 5, 2010
Famous locals: Harald Zwart
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on July 5, 2010
Harald Zwart is a Norwegian film director, born in Holland in 1965, who grew up in Fredrikstad, Østfold. He started directing short films, music videos (including a couple for A-Ha) and commercials, before moving on to feature-length movies. He has since achieved a degree of success in Hollywood, where he is now based, with films such as One Night at McCool’s (starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, John Goodman and Michael Douglas) and The Pink Panther 2, with big names such as Steve Martin, Jean Reno and Andy García.
In Norway he is more famous for directing Lange Flate Ballær, a film about football fans in his hometown of Fredrikstad, which was a big hit at the box office, and its sequel, Lange Flate Ballær 2, about a group of Norwegian misfits who undergo a week of National Guard training. Zwart’s latest film, The Karate Kid, a remake of the 1984 movie of the same name, tells the story of a young boy from Detroit who moves to China with his mum and starts learning kung fun after getting a thrashing by the local bullies. The movie, which stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith (the son of actor Will Smith), has been very well received in the US, and will premiere in Norway at Fredrikstad Cinema on 23 July.
Did you know? Harald Zwart always adds props that represent Fredrikstad and its football club, FFK, in his movies. And he also owns a cafe, Zwart Cafe, in Gamlebyen.