Photography: Karen Elliot, images copyright and courtesy of the artist, Johan Berggren Gallery and 1646
Artist: Steinar Haga Kristensen
Exhibition title: Bruine Periode – Liegen en Opscheppen
Venue: 1646, The Hague, The Netherlands
Date: March 17 – April 30, 2017
Steinar Haga Kristensen´s exhibition at 1646 comes about as the result of a very brown time, and so it is called the Brown Period. The exhibition is put together of previously un-displayed work from this period. The work combines, ceramics, tapestry, oil paint and afffresco. During the opening reception Haga Kristensen and fellow artist Eirik Senje will perform their latest socio-imaginary performance play in 9 act.
Our first encounter with Steinar Haga Kristensen was during a studio visit in Oslo in 2013. Steinar made an immediate impression on us with his wide art-historical knowledge, his sociopolitical commitment that is reflected in his work, his speedy way of thinking, making connections, his vast production of works and his clear vision and dedication to his works. Many of the works are seemingly funny, though they might have a strong political or somber starting point. He uses a traditional visual language that breaks every tradition in how it ever was used. Not interested in labeling himself in any way he is in our opinion a rebel with a cause. The form of his work ranges from event-scores, performance, sculpture and painting to video and telepathic interventions; he has written two operas, in witch the latest accompanied a monumental fresco mural of his hand.
Steinar Haga Kristensen (b.1980, Oslo, Norway) lives and works in Oslo. He studied at the National Academy of Art, Oslo, at the Academie der Bilden Kunst, Vienna, and at the Sydney College of Art, Sydney. He is one of the founding members of the performative artist group D.O.R. Between 2013-2015 Haga Kristensen had his studio at the upper floor of Oslo’s City Hall, during which he created a monumental fresco mural. He has exhibited at The Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania; Bergen art museum, Bergen; Etablissement d’en face projects, Brussels; WIELS Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels; Kunsthall Oslo, Oslo; Witte de With, Rotterdam; Museum of Contemporary Art, Roskilde; UKS, Oslo and Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark. Haga Kristensen is represented by Johan Berggren Gallery, Malmø, Sweden.