Norwegian art to be profiled heavily on board Røkke’s new research expedition vessel

Norwegian artist Magne Furuholmen has been given the main responsibility for gathering a large collection of Norwegian art on board the new research and expedition vessel. Hence this becomes an international arena for aspiring young Norwegian artists.

– The research vessel will be a venue for Norwegian art, with a focus on young high-quality artworks with international potential. Young Norwegian artists are not defined primarily by age, nor is it a prerequisite that the artists were born in Norway, but that they are part of the Norwegian art scene, says Magne Furuholmen.

The vessel is scheduled to be completed in 2020. The research and expeditions will focus on the current challenges faced by the world’s oceans, among them finding concrete solutions for removing and recycling plastic. Kjell Inge Røkke is the initiator and owner of the vessel and his company X Four-10 is in charge of planning and operating REV.

REV has the ambition of becoming a floating think-tank – an international academic and cultural meeting point for sustainable management of marine resources.

A residency program is planned for artists on board. The art on board will be considered an important voice in the dialogue about the constitution of the ocean, not pure decoration of the ship.

Magne Furuholmen has employed art historian and art theorist Åse Kamilla Aslaksen as co-curator of the project. She has experience from the Statoil Art Program and Gallery Würth, to name a few.

– Kjell Inge Røkke wants a slightly different outlook on Norwegian contemporary art for a collection that will be an important and integral part of the ship’s identity and profiling.

I see this as a unique and very generous initiative towards the Norway art scene, “says Furuholmen.

For information about the REV project in general, contact:

Tone Nymoen, Marketing and Communication Manager, X Four-10 / REV

Cell: 913 84 404

For information about the art program, contact:

Co-curator Åse Kamilla Aslaksen, Trafo Kunstproduksjon AS, aak@trafokunstprod.no