Landscapes, still lifes and gardens are recurring motifs throughout art history, articulated through different styles and techniques, and with various implied metaphors and symbols. With one foot in Western art history and the other in our present time, the works The Pillars expand upon traditional motifs. Alternative identities populate gardens and landscapes, artistic techniques are finetuned, and the stories told are adjusted to new realities.
Over the course of a career spanning seven decades, contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) has explored themes of infinity, obsession and self-reflection. Renowned for her kaleidoscopic installations, which often feature her signature use of polka dots, mirrors and bold colours, Kusama invites visitors into illusionary spaces where boundaries are dissolved, and perceptions challenged.
Narcissus Garden (1966 -) directly references the ancient mythological figure of Narcissus, a strikingly handsome youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and wasted away staring at his own image. The myth has since served as a cautionary tale against the dangers of vanity and self-absorption. This installation of 1300 silver balls creates an infinite field of mirrors, where the audience is constantly confronted with their own reflection. Entering this mesmerising sea of reflective spheres invites us into a compelling dialogue between art and mythology, self-image and self-awareness.
The exhibition also features paintings by Hurvin Anderson, Michael Armitage, Louise Giovanelli, Yukimasa Ida and Kerry James Marshall. With their distinct practices, each artist explores how art history can be both a testament to the past and a means to grapple with the present, be it through landscapes, gardens, drapery or flora.
Hurvin Anderson (b. 1965) is a British artist renowned for his vivid paintings that explore themes of memory, identity, and diaspora. Often drawing from his Jamaican heritage, Anderson's work features scenes of barbershops, domestic spaces, and imagined landscapes. His layered style blends figuration and abstraction, creating evocative images that merge cultural history and personal experience.
Michael Armitage (b. 1984) is a Kenyan-British artist known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings that blend East African folklore, political commentary, and Western art traditions. Using Lubugo bark cloth as his canvas, Armitage's work addresses contemporary social issues such as elections or conservation with a dreamlike quality. His fusion of multicultural influences and materials invites reflection on cultural identity and the interconnectedness of global art histories.
Louise Giovanelli (b.1993) is a British artist known for her meticulous paintings incorporating classical techniques. Her works often feature dreamlike imagery and drapery, an essential element of Western art composition in previous centuries and a recurring motif in her practice. Giovanelli's art, characterised by its subtle luminosity and intricate detail, draws viewers into a contemplative space, bridging the past and present through her evocative visual narratives.
The works by Japanese artist Yukimasa Ida (b.1990) often feature bold brushstrokes and vibrant colours, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the human condition. Ida combines elements from traditional Japanese techniques, such as the gestural brushstrokes of sumie or layering of nihonga, with modern abstract expressionism. His art bridges past and present, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary issues.
The African American artist Kerry James Marshall (b. 1955) is best known for his paintings addressing themes of Black identity, history, and culture. Marshall often depicts Black figures in everyday and historical contexts, challenging the absence of Black subjects in Western art. His vibrant canvases combine realism and abstraction, and in this instance, the symbolic use of Black and Part Black Birds in America (Red wing Blackbirds, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Scarlet Tanager).
The Fredriksen Family Collection
The Fredriksen Family Collection is dedicated to Inger Katharina Astrup Fredriksen (1950–2006). The artworks expand the museum’s narratives about the present and our recent past, while the room as a whole with its unique exhibition architecture offers a contrast to the museum’s collection presentation.
The Fredriksen Family Collection has been constantly evolving since the purchase of the first works in 2018. The collection forms the basis for the National Museum’s exhibition series in The Pillars.
Project Manager: Marthe Tveitan
Curator Exhibition: Stina Högkvist
Curator Education: Karen Reini-Svensson
Press Contact: Alv Hågård Gustavsen