Interest in art collecting in Norway is on the rise, but why has it taken us so long to catch up with countries like the USA, France and England, or for that matter Sweden and Denmark? Why don't more people collect art? And who is this art collector? An older, distinguished gentleman? A shrewd financial speculator? A megalomaniacal jet-setter? Not necessarily.
Geir Haraldseth has worked as a curator and critic for more than 10 years. His proximity and access to both art and artists has resulted in a large, varied and unconventional art collection, now put on display in an equally unconventional, unfinished form. It doesn't pretend to be important; it's more a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a life lived with art, an encouragement to collect yourself, and a playful interrogation of the idea of the Art Collector.
Art collecting is closely tied to money, but do you have to be wealthy to collect art? Not necessarily. In this exhibition, the most expensive work cost 8,000 kroner and an art-theoretical text in exchange.
The collection has several different themes that aren't yet fully focused, but three different rooms in the exhibition illustrate three different ways of collecting art. The main room shows 'ordinary' art such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, textile works, prints and so on – what you might call autonomous artworks with a signature and an aura of authenticity. The second room shows mostly t-shirts, a format not usually associated with art, but actually widely used by artists today. The third room shows so-called editions and multiples. These can be anything from books to glassware, from cloths to plates.
Rogaland Kunstsenter wants more people to collect art, buy art and appreciate art. Art isn't accessible enough to everyone, but the hope is that the exhibition can open doors for others. Buy art at the kunstsenter, at Studio17, at Kunsthallen, at Prosjektrom Normanns, at Amare, at Opdahl, at Kunstgalleriet or Reed Projects. Buy what you like. Buy what you can afford.
Haraldseth previously showed his tote bag collection at Landings Project Space, Vestfossen, and his collection of art books and journals is on long-term loan to Rogaland Kunstsenter.
The exhibition includes works by, among others: Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Tauba Auerbach, Naomi Fisher, Travis Boyer, K8 Hardy, Zak Kitnick, Matt Keegan, Ivan Galuzin, Kristian Skylstad, Brian Kokoska, Owen, Arthur Hutchinson, Joey Vega, Michael Bilsborough, Trygve
Luktvasslimo, Fredrik Værslev, Kaja CXZY Andersen, Bente Aanestad, Ignas Krunglevicius, Sven Sachsalber, Inger Bruun, Hans Edward Hammonds, Ida Ekblad, James Bidgood, Margrethe Aanestad, Odd Sama, Liz Croft, Kristine Øksendal, Terence Koh, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Mai Thu Perret, Damian Hirst, Paul McCarthy and Jason Rhoades, Erlend Hogstad, Trollkrem, Kasper Bosmans, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Anders Smebye, Silje Rønneberg Hogstad, Christophe Chemin, Tyler Matthew Oyer, Mike Kelley, Kenneth Anger, Fischerspooner, Los Super Elegantes, Solveig Landa, Nils Bech, ToiletPaper, PaperRad, with a special focus on Babak Ganjei and Scott Hug.