In the summer of 2026, Th. Kittelsen’s Svelgfoss series and a thematic exhibition featuring Terje Bergstad and contemporary artist Gunvor Nervold Antonsen will be on display in Gallery 2.
From the collection – Th. Kittelsen and Terje Bergstad
Flower Studies
Terje Bergstad (1938–2014) worked within a naive-expressionist style, drawing inspiration from German Expressionism and the Die Brücke painters. His own role models included artists like Munch, Gauguin, Nolde, and Nesch. Bergstad chose to move away from realistic depictions, working instead toward portraying subjects through simplified forms, line drawings, and caricature-like styles.
The summer 2026 exhibition presents flower studies, including pieces from Bergstad’s sketchbooks. This is a subject area within Bergstad’s body of work that has previously received little attention.
The Terje Bergstad Collection was donated to the museum by the Bergstad Foundation in 2013 and consists of approximately 1,500 works—primarily art on paper. The collection contains many political themes and depictions of workers and war. He also drew many subjects from his cabin in Telemark.
The exhibition featuring Terje Bergstad is presented in conjunction with Gunvor Nervold Antonsen’s exhibition “In me, you are” (I meg finnes du) in Gallery 1.
Th. Kittelsen and the Fairy Tale of the Waterfall
In 1907 and 1908, Theodor Kittelsen created five mixed-media artworks featuring motifs from Notodden and Rjukan. The series depicts the development of the Svælgfoss power station along the Tinnelva river. The commission was carried out for Sam Eyde, Hydro’s first director. The series was kept in his private collection and was later gifted to the museum by Eyde’s descendants. Kittelsen referred to the series as “The Fairy Tale of the Waterfall” (Fossens eventyr)—today we refer to it as the Svælgfoss series.
The series portrays the rise of industry in Notodden as a fairy tale. Kittelsen had been deeply impressed and inspired by a visit to Notodden. Throughout the series, we find the magical spirits of air and hydropower, the water sprite (fossegrimen), trolls, and water dragons.
In Gallery 2, you can also experience Gunvor Nervold Antonsen’s audio work “Wake up! We are being robbed in broad daylight” (Våkn opp! Vi blir rana på høylys dag), a public statement in poetic form protesting the development of the new Nore power station. The poem stands in contrast to Kittelsen’s magical depiction of hydropower development.
