28 October 2022, 5:30pm
Oslo Kunstforening

ETERNALLY YOUNG ARTISTS' SOCIETY
LET'S PARTY! ABOUT UKS AS A SOCIETY

This October marks 101 years since our still Young Artists’ Society was founded in a bar in Kristiania. That requires a celebration! While UKS is closed for renovation, we are delighted to present the first iteration of our new recurring conversation series Eternally Young Artists’ Society in collaboration with Oslo Kunstforening.

UKS was born as a bi-weekly social club for Kristiania’s artists and festive gatherings have been central to UKS throughout its lifetime. Let’s Party! About UKS as a Society is an intergenerational conversation between artists sharing memories and anecdotes from a century of jovial assemblies. Join artists AGATHA WARA (b.1983, BO), YNGVILD FAGERHEIM (b. 1942, NO), MARIANNE HURUM (b. 1978, NO) and former UKS director JØRN MORTENSEN (b. 1964, NO), who will moderate the conversation, as they reminisce and reflect on what it means to build and maintain a society of artists working through challenges, living and partying together.

After the conversation, we will leave our old friend and former neighbour, Oslo Kunstforening, and continue the evening by celebrating another long-time companion, Kunstnernes Hus, as they celebrate their 90th anniversary! Join us for the Anniversary Symphony 90 + 2 years created by one of Norway’s most innovative contemporary composers, Øyvind Torvund. NRK’s Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK) will perform the symphony in the galleries of Kunstnernes Hus. Buy tickets via this link.

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CELEBRATION PROGRAMME:
5.30–6.30pm: Let’s Party! About UKS as a Society at Oslo Kunstforening. The event is free of charge.
6.30–7.30pm: Refreshments and merry chit chat.
7.30pm: We head to Kunstnernes Hus.
8pm: Anniversary Symphony at Kunstnernes Hus. Buy your tickets here.
Onwards: Party-talk continues with drinks at Lofthus Samvirkelag at Kunstnernes Hus!

 

PRESS
– Article in Kunstkritikk (online journal)
Fest er fortsatt viktig, Kunstkritikk, 26.10.2022

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Agatha Wara is an artist born in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, currently living and working in Oslo. Wara’s textual, performative and installation-based practice pulls from a reservoir of imagination and memory, of events, characters and identities, where the border between autobiographical and outright lie is blurred. She has just finished an ‘unfinished’ novel titled NO MORE OUCHIES about silver extraction in 18th-century Bolivia which was presented at the new Norwegian National Museum in Oslo. Agatha and former UKS director Rhea Dall were the masterminds behind UKS’ event series MINIBAR.

Yngvild Fagerheim (b. 1942, NO) is a ceramic artist, and has followed UKS for many years beside her husband Olav Starheim, chair of UKS in the 1970s. She has spent her practice widening the understanding and practice of ceramics within the realm of contemporary art. Apart from her important contribution to the ceramic arts, she helped create The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts and has been an important part of the developing structure of Norwegian artists’ organisations. Fagerheim brings juicy gossip from UKS’ parties in the wild 70s.

Marianne Hurum (b. 1978, NO) is an artist, Associate Professor at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, and former Chair of UKS. She has exhibited at Kunstnernes Hus, the Astrup Fearnley Museum and published the award-winning monograph Krabbe. As the Chair of UKS, Hurum was central in working with the artist assistant scheme (Kunstnerassistentordningen) and getting the scheme included in the National Budget. Marianne is not a fan of drinks in general, but if she has to choose she often ends up with a gin & juice.

Jørn Mortensen (b. 1964, NO) is a musician, academic and leader in the university and college sector. Mortensen’s first leadership position was as Director at UKS in 1994 to 2001, before he was Director at Momentum (2001–5), Assistant Director at OCA (2007–9) and Dean and later Principal at Oslo National Academy of Arts (2011–19). Now he works as Dean for the School of Arts, Design and Media at Kristiania University College. Jørn’s all-time favourite party song is ‘He’s the Greatest Dancer’ by Sister Sledge.

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This talk at Oslo Kunstforening is spoken in English. Please note that there is limited seating. Unfortunately, the event is not wheelchair accessible. The talk will be live streamed via YouTube. The link is here.

 

Don’t miss the last days of Michael O’Donnell’s exhibition at Oslo Kunstforening:

Michael O’Donnell
‘Look Who’s Talking’
1 September–30 October 2022

 

*Image: Agatha Wara at #5 MINIBAR: CLUB LIAR in 2017. Photo by Jan Khür.

Images from “Eternally Young Artists’ Society: Let’s Party! About UKS as a Society” at Oslo Kunstforening. Photo by Malin Westermann.

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