KORO – Public Art Norway presents VISUAL ART IN THE OSLO OPERA HOUSE and is holding a book launch at The Met, Hotel Metropole,Venice, Friday 3 June 2011 at 5 pm.

Jeffrey Inaba’s proposal, SKYLIGHT 2, plays on the familiar and the unknown. An open and luminous shape hangs from the ceiling in the middle of the foyer. The shape itself carries few references or ways of being specifically interpreted. What is recognizable lies in the light.

Monica Bonvicini’s sculpture She Lies is now in place, its reflection glinting on the water outside the Opera House. H.M. Queen Sonja will take part in the official ceremony to mark the installation of the work on 11 May at 18.00, two years after the opening of the Opera House. “Two years that have been absolutely essential for the realisation of such a large and technically complex work,” says KORO director Gro Kraft. “With She Lies, eight years of work on the art programme for the Opera House reach completion and consummation. We wish to thank Christen Sveaas of Kistefos AS for a magnificent donation that has contributed greatly to the conclusion of this particular work.”

- The jury’s decision to announce two winners will make a difference for the visual interpretation of the public space. Both proposals are individually strong and will together with the architectural signage give an experience of totality for the audience at Kilden Theatre and Concerthall, says KORO’s director Gro Kraft.

Public Art Norway – KORO is a specialized government body for public art and the country’s major producer of artwork. In addition to regional and municipal projects and commissions for rented government buildings and outdoor spaces, KORO currently has 65 governmental projects under production. The largest of these is for the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, where an appointed art committee has been developing the art programme since 2002. She Lies is the final project in this programme.

KORO invites the press to view the production process of the final artwork for the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet at Bjørvika, Friday 19 February at 11.00 a.m. in Horten (bus from Oslo S at 9.30)

KORO - Public Art Norway, presents A K Dolven’s Untuned Bell at Tullinløkka.

INAUGURATION 6th of FEBRUARY 2 PM

The artist Do Ho Suh (South Korea/USA) has won the international competition for the public, outdoor art project for the Government Building Complex Part 6 (R6) with his proposal Grass Roots Square. The project will be situated in the square in front of R6 and has a unique interpretative potential – both politically and artistically – given its location in the middle of the Government Building Complex, says Gro Kraft, Director of Public Art Norway (KORO).

Against strong competition, the artist duo Beret Aksnes/Vegar Moen won the commission for an artwork to be installed in the concrete floor. "With this piece, Kilden will gain a beautiful work of art that offers stimulating experiences. The winning project refers to the facility's location and has both local and international dimensions, says Per Hess, Head of Jury.

The Acconci Studio in New York has won the competition for the commission of the Amphitheatre at the New Concert Hall in Stavanger competing against other noted and internationally-known artists. - The city of Stavanger can be proud to get an art project by Vito Acconci. The project can be understood in many ways and will enhance the experience of the Amphitheatre as a meeting place and arena, says jury leader Dyveke Sanne.

KORO and the art committee for Kilden held an open competition for proposals for art projects around the entrance area for Kilden Teater- og konserthus (Performing Arts Centre in Southern Norway). The intention was to invite artists to contribute to Kilden as a creative meeting place, where audiences could interact with works of art that would give rise to wonderment in anticipation of their visit.

Friday 22. August, 10 am: Official inauguration of three new art projects from Public Art Norway at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Ås. The artists are Erik Wessel, Carin Wessel, Dyveke Sanne and Michael O’Donnell.