Photo: byAksel
Bjørn Båsen is a Norwegian artist and comic book creator.
He works and lives in Eggedal, Norway.
artist statement
Traditionally the word “Mythology” describes the study of tales and fables of past cultures. Today we refer to the term in a broader sense. It represents a set of ideas, an ideology or simply a world-view, which makes sense within the framework of its concept. Mythology can be “world building” in a sci-fi game, the set of rules followed by the characters in a novel or describe a subculture’s history and traditions.
I wish my work to exist within a personal mythology: To seemingly derive from a place with it’s own logic, it’s own set of ideas, it’s own visual language, different from anything else. For some years now I have used a combination of art history, kitsch and literary references as inspiration for my pieces. I´ve reworked ideas, both conceptual and visual, from such sources as the Decadent Movement, the Bohemians and the Romantics. Lately other topics have started seeping into my work. Science fiction and Weird fiction have both become major influences. Their uncanny and often horrific characteristics lend a fitting unease to my visual landscape.
Using woodwork, ceramics and sewing I sculpt objects that are altered variations the historic item they refer to. This can be a piece of furniture with no seemingly practical purpose or a theatrical interior where an enigmatic event has taken place. A painting can illustrate a scenario of decadent destruction, or itself be a strange wall-based object. I wish the work to exist somewhere between suggestion and description. Giving the viewer certain clues, but no clear answer to the themes presented in the piece. The element of the handmade object is important in my work. It gives it a tactile quality as well as carrying the personal touch from the artist. The tactile nature also links it back to an old tradition of craftsmanship that ties the pieces into a historical tradition centred around the object as something precious.
In contrast to this I have started developing a set of stories and tales presented in the shape of comics. The ability to focus on the ideas rather than only the object has enriched my practice. By combining world building on a larger scale, not only sculpting individual items, but creating a larger narrative in which they can exist, I seek to gain more control of how the viewer interpret my work.
Curriculum vitae
Bjørn Båsen
Born: September 12. 1981, Eggedal, Norway
Resides and works in Eggedal, Norway
EDUCATION
2005-2007 Master of Fine Art, The National Academy of Art, Oslo, Norway
2001-2004 Batchelor of Fine Art (Hons), The Arts Institute at Bournemouth, UK
COLLECTIONS
Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, Norway
KODE Kunstmuseene i Bergen, Norway
Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Tromsø, Norway
Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim, Norway
Equinor, Norway
DNB
Statkraft
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2021 - University of Bergen, Norway
2020 - ILP, University of Tromsø, Norway
2018 - Vikersund Kurbad, Vikersund, Norway
2017 - Vollebekk Primary School, Oslo, Norway
2015 - KRONA - Kongsberg kultur- og kunnskapssenter, Kongsberg, Norway
2014 - Statkraft, Lysaker, Norway
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (selected)
2022 - “Mythos”, NITJA Senter for Samtidskunst, Lillestrøm, Norway
2020 - “Ghosts”, Galleri LNM, Oslo, Norway
2019 - “Ouverture”, Galleri Skredsvig, Eggedal, Norway
2017 - “Krønike”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Norway
2013 - “My Mouldy Avenue, Act I – Ascent”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo Norway
2011 - “Dwellers”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo Norway
2011 - “Tainted Tales”, Anya Tish Gallery, Houston, Texas, US
2010 - Galleri Brandstrup/The Solo Project, Basel, Switzerland
2009 - “Taffelarium”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Norway
2009 - “Poetic Anamorph”, Galleri J. Aasen, Ålesund, Norway
2009 - “The Green Room”, Galleri Soft, Oslo, Norway
2008 - ”Cosmetics of Adonis”, Galleri Brandstrup (Prosjektrommet), Oslo, Norway
2006 - "Looming Laila", Galleri A, Oslo, Norway
GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND ART FAIRS (selected)
2021 - 30 Grader i Februar, QB Gallery, Oslo, Norway.
2020 - “A Dream Within a Dream”, QB Gallery, Oslo, Norway.
2019 - “Høstutstillingen” (part of the installation “Woodland”), Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway
2019 - “Olje og Begjær”, Blomqvist Kunsthandel/ QB Gallery, Oslo, Norway.
2018 - “125 Objects, Choices, Stories”, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim, Norway
2018 - “Hjemmets Skatter”, Blaafarveværket, Modum, Norway
2018 - “Transit”, BGE Contemporary, Stavanger, Norway
2017 - “What Wood Would”, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim, Norway
2017 - “Samlingen”, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Tromsø, Norway
2016 - “Highlights”, Sjøparken, Stavern, Norway
2014 - “Red, White & Blue: Norwegian Constitution, American Inspiration”, Norway/US
2013 - The Armory Show, New York, US
2013 - “I Tråd med Tiden”, Haugar Vestfold Kunsmuseum, Tønsberg, Norway
2012 - “To Be With Art Is All We Ask”, Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway
2012 - Market, Stockholm, Sweden
2011 - Art Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2011 - Rackstamuseet, Arvika, Sweden
2010 - The Solo Project, Basel, Switzerland
2010 - “1+7”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Noway
2010 - “God natt da du - : Surrealisme I Norsk Kunst”, Stenersen Museet, Oslo, Norway
2009 - “Sea Level”, Pushkinskaya 10, St. Petersburg, Russia
2009 - “Sort Romantikk”, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Tromsø, Norway
2009 - “Dark Matter”, Toten Kunstforening, Toten, Norway
2009 - “Eamon O´Kane/Bjørn Båsen”, Mogadishni, Copenhagen, Denmark
2009 - “3-09”, Bomuldsfabriken, Arendal Norway
2008 - ”40/40”, Stenersen Museet, Oslo, Norway
2008 - “Båsen/Dahlstrøm/Martinussen”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Norway
2008 - “Lights On”, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, Norway
2007 - ”Obergeschoss Dritter Finger Rechts”, Ballhaus Ost, Berlin, Germany
BOOKS & ARTIST BOOKS
2021 - “Vendepunkter”, a collection of essays, Kalliope Forlag (illustrator)
2020 - “Ghosts” (artist book)
2020 - “Wonderland – om Bjørn Båsens kunst» (book written by Siri Meyer), Kalliope Forlag
2019 - “Faceless Artist Nr. 12 – The Bjørn Båsen E-mails” (book)
2017 - “Krønike” (artist book)
2013 - “My Mouldy Avenue, Act 1: Ascent” (artist book)
GRANTS & RESIDENCIES
2020 - Kulturrådets Kunstnerstipend for Etablerte Kunstnere (ten years)
2019 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond Annual Art Grant (one year)
2018 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond Annual Art Grant (one year)
2017 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond Annual Art Grant (one year)
2016 - Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond Annual Art Grant (one year)
2015 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond Annual Art Grant (one year)
2013 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond Annual Art Grant (two years)
2011 - Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond
2010 - Ingrid Lindbäck Langaards Legat (six months residency in Paris, France)
2008 - The Norwegian Arts Council Annual Grant (three years)
2007 - Master-stipend from Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond
REVIEWS, ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS (selected):
Morgenbladet, October 16, 2020
Dagsavisen, July 13, 2019
sirimeyer.no, 2019
Nyhetsmorgen, NRK P2, June 25. 2018
Morgenbladet, June 8. 2018
Kunsthåndverk, Nr. 2, 2018
FEELGOOD, March Edition, 2018
Klassekampen, December 19, 2017
Klassekampen, November 11, 2011
KUNSTforum, February, 2011
D2(DagensNæringsliv), June 11. 2010
Dagsavisen, February 5. 2010
Aftenposten, November 27. 2009
Tromsø, October 10. 2009
Interview on “Kulturnytt”, NRK P2, October 9. 2009
KUNSTforum, September 21. 2009
kunstkritikk.no, May 2009
Morgenbladet, March 20. 2009
Aftenposten, November 28. 2008
vonhundert.de, February, 2008
DagensNæringsliv, October 10. 2007
Morgenbladet, June 2007
Dagbladet, June 2. 2006
Aftenposten, March 31. 2005
Featured in the book "Kunstnerdalen - midt i Buskerud", 2003.
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES (selected):
“Hjemmets Skatter”, Blaafarveværket, 2018.
“Red, White & Blue: Norwegian Constitution, American Inspiration”, Art Pro, 2014.
“I Tråd med Tiden”, Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum, 2013.
“God natt da du - : Surrealisme I Norsk Kunst 1930-2010”, Stenersen Museet, 2010.
“40/40”, Stenersen Museet, 2008.
“Lights On”, Astrup Fearnley Museet, 2008.
COLLABORATIONS, COMMISSIONS & LECTURES:
2021 - Guest lecture, Agder Kunstakademi.
2019 - Guest leture, “Kulturkonferansen 2019, Kongsberg Musikkteater.
2018 - Guest lecture, “KUNSTGEIST”, Buskerud Kunstsenter. Moderated by Yola Maria Tsolis.
2011 - Collaboration on a performance-based production with “Toyboys” dance ensemble at Dansens Hus, Oslo, Norway (first instalment: March 2011).
2010 - Guest lecture and tutorials at The National Academy of the Arts, Oslo, Norway (MA Kunstfag).
2009 - Sculptural commission for “Royal Copenhagen” presented at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
2005 - Conceptual Designer on the British short film “The Last Word”.