ArtGenda bienniale Helsinki 2000, galleria Jangvassa/Jangva
Exhibition view Galleria Jangva. ´´Sound of the Urban Soul´, 3-screen video installation. Artists Bjørg Taranger, Mona Eckhoff Sørmo & Ellen Solberg.
REVIEW in
KAUPUNKILAISTA SIELUA ETSIMÃSSÃ Helsingin Sanomat May 20th 2000
by Anu Uimonen
Extract - ”In the dark halls of the warehouse we are offered different strange environments. It ranges from Szcecins to images of the city of Malmö. But the most touching installation we find at Gallery Jangva were Bjørg Taranger, Mona Eckhoff Sørmo & Ellen Solberg from Bergen has created a video triptych with some very thought through themes which touches the identity of the modern urban being, vulnerability, the agony of memory and the artificial stress. From it you can hear the pulse of the urban soul." -
(Translated to english by Jan Pettersson )
Exhibition view Galleria Jangva. City Angel installation & happening. Artist Bjørg Taranger
The video Preparing A Private Space consists of two scenes that was shot at a hospital, one "ready-made" happening with two nurses making a bed, and one with artist performing in here painted red cross shoes.
In City Angel Taranger wanted to put the focus on our need for care and respect, both giving and receiving. The idea is based upon a personal experience when here mother was hospitalized and placed behind a folding screen in the corridor for 5 days. The "private space" was not there when needed…
Text on project by Birthe Marie Løveid
Bjørg Taranger was presented with two works at Galleria Jangva. 1/3 of ´Sound of the Urban Soul´ , and CITY ANGEL with the video Preparing a Private Space, and installation with hospital bed, side table and happening with two nurses.
REVIEWS
Mare Articum the Baltic Art Magazine Issue 2, 2000 by Jonas-Valtkevicius ( photo) p. 61 and by Ekaterina Andreeva ( ref.text city angel) p. 64-66
Morgenbladet May 28th 2000 on ArtGenda2000, Biennale in Helsinki
by Anne Karin Jortveit.
NÅR KUNSTEN INFILTRERER BYEN, ELLER OMVENDT ?
Extract - ´Oslo took part in the 2 first biennials, but this year it is Bergen's turn with the artists Bjørg Taranger, Mona Eckhoff Sørmo & Ellen Solberg. The 3 of them finished the Art Academy in Bergen 1999. The co-ordinator for their contribution is artist and former rector at the department, Birthe Marie Løveid.
The 3 Norwegian participants, who are exhibiting at Gallery Jangva, are showing a video projection in three parts (a triptych) tied up together to sound by Ketil Høidal, and has the somewhat loaded title "Sound of the Urban Soul". In this piece both the individual work and the group work is kept together. These visually different videos, put together as a collage, illuminates the aspects of urban living, both as a single person as well as a part of the community. The question of time, remembrance, empathy and human connection, or maybe even the absence of these, is running like a thin red line between these.
The videos are projected parallel on three screens and are moving gradually between these. This circular movement makes for a slight movement in each video each time. On its own each video would probably not have drawn much attention, but in the meeting point between the three contributions they are lifted to another level.
This makes the contribution from Bergen into a fragile, melancholy and well executed piece of work. ´ - (Translated to english by Jan Pettersson)