Page 40 - Studio International - March 1965

Oslo as an art centre

1 by John Boulton Smith

It is nearly twelve years ago that The Studio published national pride. What comes from abroad has to be
an issue devoted to Norwegian art. On that occasion. adapted to the national character; indeed. some of the
Reidar Revold. now Konservator of the Munch frequent gleanings from Paris during this century have
Museum. said of most Norwegian artists that they 'in made awkward transplantings. In Norwav. the urge to
their different ways try to interpret the emotional impact be immediately with every crop of new international
upon them to the Norwegian scenery ... the constant ideas has been much less marked than. say. in Sweden,
source of inspiration for Norwegian painters·. And he and this has tended to give some modern Norwegian
continued: 'Only among the youngest generation is art an old-fashioned look. But a Swedish art historian
non-figurative art represented'. said to me (looking over his shoulder to see that none
How different is the Oslo scene now? When one visits of his colleagues were listening): 'They produce greater
the Hostutstilling at Kunstnernes Hus today. the big individuals than we do'.
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The Munch Museum. Interior open exhibition of the year. non-figurative work seems Certainly Norwegians do prize their individuals. The
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Johannes Rian to fill at least half the wall-space. And at Galleri Haaken Munch Museum. opened in 1963. is an object lesson in
Blue II. 1964 and other leading dealers the situation is the same. True. the housing and display of a great artist's legacy which
91 x 71 cm.
Collection of Fru. Eva Scheel Pop Art has not engaged the affections of Norwegian can make an Englishman ashamed of the lack of any­
3 artists yet, although when the large American exhibition thing comparable here. Gunnar Fougner and Einar
Sigurd Winge
My Wife. 1 946 was in Stockholm last year, it was energetically dis­ Myklebust have designed an attractive building. which
Drypoint cussed in the Oslo Press. Does this mean that things at the same time accords with the belief of the Director.
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Jens Johannessen Exhibition have really altered underneath? The Norwegians and Johan H. Langaard. that a museum should put display
1963 their artists have always been healthily strong on of the pictures before architectural ostentation. In
Galleri Haaken
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