Bendik Riis (1911–1988) holds an important place in Norwegian post-war art and is of enduring relevance to contemporary art in general. His highly distinctive works address existential extremes and collective memories of the hardships of the 1930s, World War II and the German occupation of Norway.
Not least, his pictures reflect a fascination for the national themes typical of Norwegian art from J.C. Dahl through to the 1960s. A number of Riis’ works are based on his experience as a patient forcibly committed to the psychiatric hospital at Gaustad from 1946 to 1952. His art explores the ground between touching fantasy and painful trauma. In addition to his important paintings and drawings, the exhibition includes examples of the artist’s poetry and prose.
Curator: Jon-Ove Steihaug