Description
The project is dedicated to the oeuvre of Oskar Hansen, an outstanding Norwegian-born architect, artist, theorist and educator, affiliated with Team 10 and Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. His influential theory of Open Form negated the hierarchy between the architect and the user, and postulated to treated architecture as a ‘passe-partout’ for everyday life, open for changes and user’s individual expression. The theory, taught by Hansen in Warsaw and by his student, Svein Hatløy, in Bergen, became an inspiring reference point for a few generations of Polish artists and Norwegian architects. The goal of the project launched by the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw in collaboration with the Bergen School of Architecture is to provide a meeting ground for those two independently developing 'Hansen's traditions', and to promote them as part of the European cultural heritage. Starting with an in-depth study of Hansen’s archive, the project will result in the organisation – a conference devoted to Hansen’s oeuvre in June 2013 and a symposium dedicated to conservation of his house in Szumin in November 2013 – and an exhibition at MACBA, Barcelona, opening in July 2014.
Summary of project results
The project was dedicated to the oeuvre of Oskar Hansen, an outstanding Norwegian-born architect, artist, theorist and educator, affiliated with Team 10 and Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. His influential theory of Open Form negated the hierarchy between the architect and the user, and postulated to treated architecture as a ‘passe-partout’ for everyday life, open for changes and user’s individual expression. The theory, taught by Hansen in Warsaw and by his student, Svein Hatløy, in Bergen, became an inspiring reference point for a few generations of Polish artists and Norwegian architects. The goal of the project launched by the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw in collaboration with the Bergen School of Architecture was to provide a meeting ground for those two independently developing 'Hansen's traditions', and to promote them as part of the European cultural heritage. Starting with an in-depth study of Hansen’s archive, the project resulted in the conference devoted to Hansen’s oeuvre in June 2013 and symposium dedicated to conservation of his house in Szumin in November 2013 – exhibitions at MACBA in Barcelona and in Serralves Museum in Porto, as well as several publications.
Summary of bilateral results
The Bergen School of Architecture contributed to the project with their knowledge, experience and materials related to the functioning of Hansen's ideas and didactic methods in Norway. Jointly composed programme of activities promoted shared heritage, but also improved the quality of artistic education and creating the possibility for further cooperation of cultural institutions and artistic schools in Poland and Norway. The partnership is expected to be continued after project's completion.