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Since my last year at Parsons The New School in 1998 I have curated and produced exhibitions.
Curatorial projects mostly emerge through my own artistic research and seeing a tendency, a need, or a common denominator between colleagues. I see curating as an intertwined aspect of my work within art, and the dialogues and collaborations that occur in projects inform me and each other. In New York I curated my first show at Parsons Student Gallery, followed by Pot Luck art events at my studio in the meat packing district. Since moving back to Oslo in 2006 I attended a curatorial study at Telemark University College. There I met Thale Fastvold and started collaborating with her on LOCUS. Since 2006 LOCUS have produced video art events, published books, curated exhibitions and collaborated thematically and artistically on creating exhibitions and events in New York, Miami, St.Petersburg, Moscow, Medellin, Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and the Venice Biennale. In 2017 we both where accepted to be part of IKT - International organization of curators of contemporary art. In 2011 I organized a one day Performance Laboratorium in Oslo, after which I co-initiated Performance Art Oslo (PAO) with a group of artists, an organization for performance artists living and working in Oslo. Since 2013 Franzisca Siegrist and I have curated the PAO festival. In 2012 I co-curated a videoart event with art historian Ekaterina Sharova with Russian contemporary video art which travelled to five cities in Norway. Since 2011 I have worked as an art-consultant for projects such as a Kindergarden in Oslo, a high school in Bergen and a school in Bryne outside Stavanger in Norway. Current art-consultant projects are a high school in Viken, a railway underpass in Lørenskog and Langøyene in Oslo. |
Tanja Thorjussen. Photo: Jannik Abel
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PROJECTS:
Art Consultant at Langøyene, Oslo, Norway
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In 2020 - 2023 I was art-consultant for the project at Langøyene Island in Oslo. Up until 1946 the island was used as a waste disposal of industrial and domestic waste from Oslo, which resulted in two small Islands becoming one large. In 2019 the work to secure the trash and create an oasis for the people of Oslo began. After an open prequalification the committee chose 4 artists to compete for the main project which Mattias Härenstam won with the works "Alt som før var dødt". The eight metal sculptures in different heights elude plants reaching for the sun while growing. Maria Sundby and Andrea Scholze was both invited to create respective artworks in the middle of the island, and at the farside beach area. Maria Sundbys work "The Rest in Pieces" consist of tree metal boxes sunken into the ground filled with the trash, or "treasures" which the artist have collected through many years on the same island. Andrea Scholze has made the works "Familien fra havet" which consist of a family of 3 seals cast in bronze which is placed at the intersection of hight tide and low tide at the beach. So far only the first seal have arrived. |
PAO Festival - from 2013 - 2021
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Since 2013 I have co-curated the yearly PAO Festival with Franzisca Siegrist. The festival is a three day international performance festival with live performance, videoart, artist talks and workshop.
Franzisca and I curated our last PAO Festival in 2021 and published the book PAO 7 Years which is an archive of our past years of working with various PAO events. PAO is a member organization for visual artists working within the field of performance art, living in Oslo/Akershus, Norway. The organization aims to create a network and opportunities for performance artists through organizing seminars, workshops and PAO Festival. More info here on PAO website. |
Art consultant at Bryne school 2017-18
In 2017-18 I was art-consultant to Bryne Ungdomskule in Bryne outside Stavanger in Norway. The committee chose two artists to create work for the space outside in the public space of the school.
Artists: Petter Hepsø (sculpture in bronze and rocks) and Vigdis Fjellheim (painted mural)
Artists: Petter Hepsø (sculpture in bronze and rocks) and Vigdis Fjellheim (painted mural)
Kjerringøy Land art biennale 2015
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In 2015 I was invited by Ane Øverås, the initiator of KLAB to be on the jury (with Per Gunnar Eeg-Tverbakk) and co-curate the 2015 edition.
Through an open call we received applications from Norway and abroad. The selected artists created sitespesific work during a week living and working on site. VANESSA ALBURY (USA), EVA BAKKESLETT (NO), LINE ANDA DALMAR (NO), CAROLINE DEAR (Scotland / UK), MARIUS ENGH OG TARJE EIKANGER GULLAKSEN (NO), CECILIA JONSSON (SE/NO), RITA MARHAUG OG TRACI KELLY (NO/UK), LINDA MOLENAAR (NL), PER KRISTIAN NYGÅRD (NO), TERJE ROALKVAM (NO), JILL SIGMAN, (USA), PATY SONVILLE (BE) |
Art Consultant at Årstad High school in bergen 2012-15
I was assigned to be art consultant in collaboration with Are Hauffen for a high school in Bergen. We arranged a competition with 3 artists, where Jon Arne Mogstad was chosen for his project "Equalizer" also the animation work "Collision of Species (Oneiric Darwinism)" by Mai Hofstad Gunnes was purchased.
Echoing Tracks - Performance in Drammen 10 may 2014
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PAO was invited by Drammen Kunstforening to curate a day of performance in Drammen. We invited the three performance artists Amelia Beavis-Harrison, Anne-Liis Kogan and Pavlina Lucas to create site specific performances for the area around Bragernes Torg.
To develop the works the artists have drawn inspiration from the local history, which is reflected in the city architecture and public art. The event is curated by Tanja Thorjussen of PAO |
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Dialogue - Russian videoart 2012-13
Dialogue / Polyphony is a videoartevent curated by Ekaterina Sharova and Tanja Thorjussen with video works by Anna Prikhodko, Petr Pavlensky, Taisiya Krougovykh, Ksenia Sorokina and Voina. The event has been screened at Atelier Nord / ANX in Oslo, Knipsu valgvake in Bergen, Bodø Kunstforening in Bodø, Gathering of the ar(c)t(ic) tribes in Svolvær in Lofoten and Ofelas in Kirkenes. The event was partly funded by Fritt Ord.
In Problems of Dostoevsky’s Poetics Mikhael Bakhtin discusses the differences between monologue and polyphone (from Greek polys: many, and phone: word), where many voices are heard in contrast to one voice in power, as in the novel ”Crime and punishment” by Fjodor Dostoevskij. Bakhtins book was published in 1929, when Stalin already had been general-secretary of the Soviet Union communist party for seven years, and four years before Hitler became chancellor in Germany. The next edition was not published until 1963 - 10 years after the death of Stalin.
Bakhtin said that Dostoevskij was innovative in his novels by introducing a story of discourse where many subjects with varied perspectives and opinions are heard – in contrast to a novel with a monolog expression. The author allows a discussion between many characters, which becomes subjects, in comparison to a novel where all characters build up around one idea and become objectified. Bakhtin expand his ideas to a philosophical principal, which can be fundamental for life and the relations between people. A continuum of dialogue is possible only when there is room for understanding, in essence when one participant not fully understands what the other means. To continue dialogue one needs some ”empty space” something that still needs to be understood. If all is understood there is no base for continued dialog and understanding.
ARTISTS
Anna Prikhodko (b.1989) is educated in Graphical Arts from Moscow University of Printing Arts, and in animation from Chungbuk National University (South-Korea). She is now studying New Media at the Rodchenko School. In her work Artist’s Statement we see a communicaton attempt. Who is the communicator? Is the chosen language successful?
Petr Pavlensky (b.1984) is from St. Petersburg and educated at the Stieglitz art academy. Pavlensky uses video, action, performance and text in his work. He was known internationally for his political actions in public space. In this video “An anonymous Nazi”, we see the torso of a man covered by scars and tattoos. The man talking is a Russian neo-Nazi telling the story of witnessing his friends having killed a man from Caucasus in Saint Petersburg. What is the circumstance that leads a teenager to express the normality of killing another human being based on “wrong” heritage?
Taisiya Krougovykh (b.1981) is educated in Video Art at the Rodchenko school in Moscow (school of video-art). She has exhibited at Winzavod (Moskva), Moderna Museet (Stockholm) and participated in an art residency at TOP e.V. during dOCUMENTA 13 in Kassel. In her work she deals with issues of migration and other political themes. In her video The Beard we see an older man with a beard and some shopping bags. It is New Years Eve and people are out celebrating. The man, or the beard has a mysterious magic or energy, however it is only we who see the man and his magic while in his surroundings he remains invisible and marginalized. Krougovykh was nomainated for the prestigious Kandinsky prize for young artists in 2013.
Ksenia Sorokina (b. 1986) is from Astrakhan’, but lives and works in Moscow. She is educated from Astrakhan’ Art College, Mkhat School Studio and RATI/GITIS Theatre Academy.
The videowork “My Survival Strategy” is biographical, but reflecting on a more general tendency. It shows how a young artist in Moscow lives in relations influenced by precarity, the growing phenomenon of uncertainty amongst workers in the creative field both in Russia and globally. In the urban jungle it is necessary to communicate in innovative ways to survive.
Voina define themselves as a revolutionary group of Russian artists who have performed radical protests and actions in the public space since 2005. The group has consisted of more than sixty members including artists and students at the Rodchenko Art School, Moscow State University, University of Tartu and also members of the future feministic punk-collective Pussy Riot. The concert "Cock in Ass - All Cops Are Bastards, You Ought to Remember That" took place in a court room the 29th of May 2009 during a public hearing of Andrei Yerofeev which curated the exhibition “Forbidden Art - 2006”. The video we show is a documentation of the artist group action where punkmusic was used both artistically and politically.
Bakhtin said that Dostoevskij was innovative in his novels by introducing a story of discourse where many subjects with varied perspectives and opinions are heard – in contrast to a novel with a monolog expression. The author allows a discussion between many characters, which becomes subjects, in comparison to a novel where all characters build up around one idea and become objectified. Bakhtin expand his ideas to a philosophical principal, which can be fundamental for life and the relations between people. A continuum of dialogue is possible only when there is room for understanding, in essence when one participant not fully understands what the other means. To continue dialogue one needs some ”empty space” something that still needs to be understood. If all is understood there is no base for continued dialog and understanding.
ARTISTS
Anna Prikhodko (b.1989) is educated in Graphical Arts from Moscow University of Printing Arts, and in animation from Chungbuk National University (South-Korea). She is now studying New Media at the Rodchenko School. In her work Artist’s Statement we see a communicaton attempt. Who is the communicator? Is the chosen language successful?
Petr Pavlensky (b.1984) is from St. Petersburg and educated at the Stieglitz art academy. Pavlensky uses video, action, performance and text in his work. He was known internationally for his political actions in public space. In this video “An anonymous Nazi”, we see the torso of a man covered by scars and tattoos. The man talking is a Russian neo-Nazi telling the story of witnessing his friends having killed a man from Caucasus in Saint Petersburg. What is the circumstance that leads a teenager to express the normality of killing another human being based on “wrong” heritage?
Taisiya Krougovykh (b.1981) is educated in Video Art at the Rodchenko school in Moscow (school of video-art). She has exhibited at Winzavod (Moskva), Moderna Museet (Stockholm) and participated in an art residency at TOP e.V. during dOCUMENTA 13 in Kassel. In her work she deals with issues of migration and other political themes. In her video The Beard we see an older man with a beard and some shopping bags. It is New Years Eve and people are out celebrating. The man, or the beard has a mysterious magic or energy, however it is only we who see the man and his magic while in his surroundings he remains invisible and marginalized. Krougovykh was nomainated for the prestigious Kandinsky prize for young artists in 2013.
Ksenia Sorokina (b. 1986) is from Astrakhan’, but lives and works in Moscow. She is educated from Astrakhan’ Art College, Mkhat School Studio and RATI/GITIS Theatre Academy.
The videowork “My Survival Strategy” is biographical, but reflecting on a more general tendency. It shows how a young artist in Moscow lives in relations influenced by precarity, the growing phenomenon of uncertainty amongst workers in the creative field both in Russia and globally. In the urban jungle it is necessary to communicate in innovative ways to survive.
Voina define themselves as a revolutionary group of Russian artists who have performed radical protests and actions in the public space since 2005. The group has consisted of more than sixty members including artists and students at the Rodchenko Art School, Moscow State University, University of Tartu and also members of the future feministic punk-collective Pussy Riot. The concert "Cock in Ass - All Cops Are Bastards, You Ought to Remember That" took place in a court room the 29th of May 2009 during a public hearing of Andrei Yerofeev which curated the exhibition “Forbidden Art - 2006”. The video we show is a documentation of the artist group action where punkmusic was used both artistically and politically.
Bergebo barnehage - 2011 / Art Consultant
In 2011 I was assigned the job of finding art for the rebuilding of Bergebo kindergarden in Oslo. In collaboration with the committee, consisting of members from the municipality, architect, entrepreneur and the kindergarden staff, we decided in commissioning two artists for the job. Petter Hepsø with a small sculpture in bronze outside and Ulrika Berge with a mural made of drawings by threads inside.
LOCUS: YONDER - group Exhibition 2008
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YONDER
Presenting: Anitra Haendel (USA) Yuka Kinoshita (Japan) Samuel Olou (Togo/No) Seldon Yuan (USA) YONDER is an exhibition which investigates migration as a consequence of love. Love towards idea, place, dream and reality. The artists have worked with migration from a personal perspective, however touched upon global issues as well. Both the physical migration as well as the mental journey is investigated. Yonder is a place which can be seen (or visualized), but do not have definite location. It is an idea of a place, neither here nor there or in-between, and is as hard to grasp as the location of the rainbow. Location: Galleri 69, Oslo Exhibition period: 15.08- 07.09 2008 Curated by Thale Fastvold og Tanja Thorjussen / LOCUS |
LOCUS: Blackening - Video art event 2008
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Blackening
Presenting: Inger Lise Hansen (NO) / Paddy Jolley (IR) / Rebecca Trost (GE) Hjørdis Kurås (NO) Johanna Zwaig (NO) BLACKENING was a video-art event where we presented two videos and one performance (one time only) as a program. In-between each session was a an intermission, giving the visitor time to reflect and discuss the arts. Location: Galleri 69, Oslo Time: Friday 07.03.2008 Curated by Thale Fastvold og Tanja Thorjussen / LOCUS |
LOCUS: Nr.13 - Video art event 2008
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Nr. 13
Presenting: The Heartist’s (Ingebjørg Torgersen & Cathrine Constanse) Hjørdis Kurås Marius E. Hauge Nr. 13 was a video-art event where we presented three videos (one time only) as a program. Inbetween each session was a an intermission, giving the visitor time to reflect and discuss the arts. Location: Galleri Blunk in Trondheim Time: Friday 13.06.2008 Curated by Thale Fastvold og Tanja Thorjussen / LOCUS |
LOCUS: Transformation - Video art event 2007
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Transformation
Presenting: Inger Lise Hansen (NO) Steinar Haga Kristensen (NO) Tor Jørgen Van Eijk (NO) Ruvan Wijesooriya (US) TRANSFORMATION was LOCUS first curated video-art event. We presented four artists showing their videos (one time only) as a program. In-between each session was a an intermission, giving the visitor time to reflect and discuss the arts. The drinks where sponsored by Vermouth. Location: Grønlandsleiret 39, Oslo Time: Saturday 17.11.2007 Curated by Thale Fastvold og Tanja Thorjussen / LOCUS |
