PRESS RELEASE: TWO WINNERS IN THE COMPETITION FOR COMMISSION AT KILDEN

After the international prequalifying round with 132 participants, KORO and the Art Committee for Kilden arranged a limited competition for four artists for the Upper Foyer at Kilden. The four artists:

Josefine Lyche, Katarina Löfström, Felice Varini and Vong Phaophanit/Claire Oboussier. As a surprise to us all, the jury found it possible to select two winners. – The proposals from Josefine Lyche and Vong Phaophanit/Claire Oboussier will together give new layers of associations, interpretations and atmosphere to the foyer, says the leader of the jury Per Hess.

The Upper Foyer is an area where audiences will gather before performances or at intervals, and interact with other people. The jury was looking for unobtrusive, abstract artworks that take into consideration the audience’s expectations, discussions and reflections.

Josefine Lyche will paint the 95 meter bending wall with her rich and personal process of painting.  - The surface is imaginative with almost surreal qualities, with a compelling shivering energy. There is room for great variation, reflected in an endless world of associations. The painting has musical dreamlike strength through being so abstract. This style of painting has a beautiful handcrafted, muscular quality (from the Jury’s assessment). Josefine Lyche, born in Bergen, is one of the younger artists that have made a central position in Norway. She is represented in exhibitions both in Norway and abroad, currently represented at the National Museums “Stir heart: Women Who Move Art 1”. She has no less than 14 public art projects. http://www.josefinelyche.com/

Vong Phaophanit/Claire Oboussier’s proposal is a neon light installation hung from the ceiling of the foyer space. The installation forms a circle above the main stair and radiates from this in a variety of daylight tones of neon to en–compass the entire foyer. - This is a fascinating project well presented. It binds together the entire foyer space with one simple but elegant gesture. In contrast with the sharp object nature of the lights, the pulsation of the neon tubes, having the slow rhythm of someone breathing, embodies the space and gives it a dreamlike atmosphere. The neon light installation manages to be abstract, while giving room for an obvious interpretation: A source of life and spirituality (Sun, Kilden). It also connects to the European tradition of grand chandeliers in theatre foyers (from the Jury’s assessment). Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier live in London and have been collaborating for 20 years. Their art work is represented world wide, with recently projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, Belfast and Derry. Phaophanit was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1993. http://www.atopia.org.uk/

Exhibition: The proposals from the competition for both Upper Foyer and Concrete Floor will be exhibited from 10-13 March in Agder Kunstnersenter. At the opening 10 March at 6 p.m. the jury will give a presentation of their assessments and be available for questions.

The Art Committee, also the Jury: Per Hess (leader) and Anne Aanerud, Art Consultants, Samuli Woolston, architect, Toril Runden, Regional Mayor depute, Arild Strømsvåg, representing Agder Teater, Dagny Anker Gevelt building representative.

Illustrations, Jury assessment, competition programme, etc:
http://www.koro.no/
http://www.kilden.com/

For further information, please contact leader of the Art Committee Per Hess: per@perhess.com, tel +47 414 20 870.

Yours sincerely,

Beate Styri, head of communication KORO, tel +47 22 99 11 80, bst@koro.no