Wednesday, September 23, 2009

magic in the museum with iPhone photos



late-afternoon, energy flagging, i decided to go for a little walk for some fresh air and to clear my head. the office has a park-like campus along the oslo fjord and a short distance away is the henie-onstad modern art museum. i walked in that direction, thinking i'd just have a walk in the sculpture park and not go in, but for some reason, i was drawn inside. and happily, i learned that the museum is free on wednesdays!



first, i checked out the to be heard is to be seen exhibition, which featured paintings specially done directly on the walls and several interesting video installations, a sound installation and a rotating rhinestone-clad accordion. i wasn't supposed to take pictures, but since i was all alone, i sneaked out the iPhone and snapped some shots. they of course don't do it justice. even just the architecture of the place means it's a tremendous space, even without the art.



one of my favorite parts was a series of art-journal kind of pages featuring a poem by a scandinavian poet who i didn't know and whose name i failed to write down. this was my favorite page:


i like screaming i like my brain i like horses
in type, on ordinary paper and with faded cello tape. i love it.


tapestry by asger jorn
and a little peek of the hallway i describe below

then i headed for the other wing of the museum, feeling content with the fact that i was the only visitor. the exhibition on the other side was entitled the art of tomorrow today. it's a selection of pieces from their permanent collection, displayed in beautiful surroundings that completely do justice to the art. danish artist asger jorn apparently loved norway and the henie-onstad museum and donated a whole lot of his drawings and sketches and doodles. they were matted and framed and all hanging together in critical mass along a long, curved wooden hallway. my iPhone couldn't come close to capturing it, but it was so marvelous i had to go back and have a second look. here are a few shots i did manage to get.







in addition to jorn, there were miró, a couple of picassos, a matisse, jasper johns, warhol's electric chair 1-10 and some rauschenberg soviet pieces from 1988 that to me were very evocative of those waning years of the reagan era and the soviet union.



i really couldn't believe my luck, having those wonderful paintings all to myself, to enjoy in silence on my own, no one moving past me, getting in my way or breaking into my thoughts with their voices. the golden light of the afternoon sun coming through the windows into the (typically norwegian) wood-intensive space combined with the art did that thing to my molecules where they hum in perfect alignment.

i told the girl at the desk on my way out that i thought it had been quite magical having the place all to myself. and for free to boot! how lucky was that?

13 comments:

kristina said...

that wooden hallway looks beautiful! I'm glad you had a good afternoon :-)

MissBuckle said...

I love the Henie-Onstad centre. I can get lost in there for hours, Liver waiting impatiently and getting annoyed when he doesn't 'understand' the art.

Ju said...

How lovely to stumble across good art in the middle of the afternoon. Sure you made the most of it.
I love the tapestry by Asger Jorn.

Bee said...

Asger Jorn's "doodles" really do like children's drawings -- although they are beautifully colorful and appealing.

The word "free" has lots of meanings here.

Cwybrow said...

I know this is ridiculous, but the slight dent in the top piece really bugs me! Sounds like a magical afternoon.

Liz Fulcher, The Fragrant Muse said...

A magical day to be sure. Did you sneak a touch?

Ambiance in the Attic said...

Thanks for the e-trip to the museum. I enjoyed your company!

heidikins said...

I can't get over the sparkly accordian.

xox

Kim: said...

I'm so glad you snuck pictures! There really is something magical about an unplanned trip to an art museum. I'm inspired...

Barb said...

I love the accordion! Thanks for sharing these pictures with us!

spudballoo said...

I read this last night but didn't comment...I just came back to say OOOOh what a total treat! I can't remember the last time that happened to me, a museum all to myself!

SE'LAH... said...

i so wish i got the museum more often. lovely pics.

kristina - no penny for them said...

i so get what you mean. i often have that feeling of totally getting lost in art - no matter if i even understand or like all of it. it really makes me happy, it's some kind of flow-experience.

for me, it's the ultimate soul-comfort-food. i'm glad you had those moments to yourself.