036

Fanny Sophie Gjestland has through her exhibition "036 - A light-hearted look at the tradition of national costumes", expressed a desire to comment on Norwegian women's problematic relationship with their national costumes. 

Many women in Norway own a bunad, which is a traditional Norwegian costume. It is associated with belonging, beauty and pride, but it can also be very warm, tight and uncomfortable to wear. Gjestland, who is a trained goldsmith and precious metal designer, has this to say about her relationship with the national costume bunad: "It has marked me physically. I have got burns in my armpits, bruises on my ribs and I have stabbed myself in my throat while fastening the silver brooch."

With this experience in mind, she has styled jewellery and other works of art which comment on the tradition of the bunad in a humorous way.

A number of artists have been invited to participate in the exhibition. They have produced works that relate to the national costume or tradition in various ways. Siri Berrefjord, Sigurd Bronger, Konrad Mehus and Lars Sture use traditional costume silver as a basis for their jewellery. Brita Been’s colourful rugs have a connection to folk art and textile history. Marianne Moe has created a new form of traditional costume aprons, handbags and 17th-of-May ribbons. An old inherited mitten is the basis for Kari Skoe Fredriksen’s large floor work of ceramic tiles. Solveig Grotmål Asheim displays ceramic bowls with traditional costume.

More activities in the Daily programme-calendar.

Culture Choker, 925S, korpus, filigran. Photo from the exhibition.