Through a major presentation of Norwegian artist Arne Ekeland’s paintings, the exhibition focuses on the artist’s factory and worker motifs, and allegorical depictions of war and class struggles.
Room 1
Arne Ekeland – Machinery Parts
Ekeland’s political stance is evident in his artistic expression, with revolution and societal upheaval as recurring themes. The exhibition will address central themes in Ekeland’s work, such as workers and class struggle, politics, revolution, and liberation movements. The museum seeks to show the breadth of Ekeland’s expression, from his “Cogwheel Style” and his purple period, to his inspiration from other art movements such as Cubism, German Expressionism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. The exhibition will feature some of Ekeland’s monumental paintings.
The exhibition is based on a major loan from Christen Sveaas’ Art Foundation, The Nationalmuseum, along with loans from other museums and collections, as well as works from the museum’s own collection.
Arne Ekeland (1908-1994)
Ekealnd made his artistic breakthrough at the Autumn Exhibition in 1934. He was briefly a student of Axel Revold but was mostly self-taught. With his solo exhibition at the Kunstnerens hus in Oslo in 1940, he positioned himself among the leading Norwegian painters of his time. Many young artists were inspired by Ekeland’s work. In the years following World War II one saw the emergense of several painters who showed clear influence from Arne Ekeland.
Curated by Susanne G. Lange