Description
Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) is a cultural centre whose main mission is the integration, presentation and promotion of contemporary art. TEA will collaborate with The Haukeland Collection in the organization of an exhibition of the Norwegian sculptor Arnold Haukeland (who was a promoter of abstract expressionism in Norway), who lived in Tenerife from 1968 to 1975. The exhibition in Tenerife seeks to demonstrate how the inspiration Haukeland obtained in Spain both from the openness from the people he met, and the artistic impressions, is inherited by younger contemporary artists in Norway. The exhibition will highlight the importance of the cultural exchange and the impact the Spanish spirit had on the Norwegian artist. To inspire further exchange between Norway and Spain, the exhibition will also include a contemporary component, displaying works by four contemporary Norwegian artists who follow a tradition after Haukeland, and have been inspired by his works. The exhibition aims to allow the public to see a common artistic identity beyond borders and inspire a continued artistic exchange between the two countries. - An exhibition of the work of Arnold Haukeland in Tenerife in March 2014. - An exhibition of four contemporary Norwegian artists in Tenerife in March 2014: Matias Faldbakken, Marius Ebgh, Ida Ekblad and Sverre Wyller. - A documentary on Haukeland, produced by NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting corporation) General public in Spain and Norway is expected to benefit from the project. The Haukeland Collection, which is responsible for conserving and promoting the artist's work, currently owns the sculptures. Led by Anna Katharina Haukeland, the commissioner and director of the Haukeland Collection, the institution is collaborating as the Norwegian partner of this project together with the Tenerife Espacio de las Artes by providing the works of art, archives and photographic materials that are needed for the exhibition.
Summary of project results
Arnold Haukeland is recognised as one of the most important sculptors in the history of Norwegian art. Between 1968 and 1975, he lived and worked in Tenerife. However, he has been quite unknown in Spain and the Canary Islands. Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) and the Haukeland Collection cooperated on this project to give Haukeland the recognition he deserves. The exhibition, that also included work of the contemporary Norwegian artists Matias Faldbakken, Marius Ebgh, Ida Ekblad and Sverre Wyller, allowed us to see a common artistic identity that could inspire a continued cultural exchange between the two countries. The exhibition received a lot of attention, and this has contributed to not only increase the interest in Haukeland`s work, but to augment the awareness of Norwegian contemporary art in general. Tenerife has a large Norwegian community, which the exhibition now has brought closer to the local population by pointing out their shared cultural references. Artwork were brought from Norway to Tenerife and the exhibition “The King of Icod”, that was open between 25 May and the 31 August 2014, highlighted how Spanish culture influenced Haukeland’s work. The exhibition highlighted the importance of cultural exchange, and the impact that Spanish spirit had on the Norwegian artist. The exhibition also included a contemporary component, displaying works by four contemporary Norwegian artists to demonstrate how the time that Arnold Haukeland’s spent in Tenerife during the 60’s and 70’s and the influence of the Spanish environment and liberal attitude of the people of Tenerife continues to be evident in Norwegian fine art today.
Summary of bilateral results
The Haukeland Collection owns the sculptures and is responsible for the conservation of the work. The partnership was crucial to expand the artistic exchange between Norway and Spain. This exchange was established in the late 60’s, when Arnold Haukeland brought back Spanish influences to Norway, visible in his monumental sculptures. The exhibition of his work in Tenerife returned the sculptures to their original environment and showed the inhabitants what great art that had been produced at the island. In the project, the partner provided the artworks, archival and photographic material to the exhibition. They were also responsible for the contemporary component of the project; the exhibition of four Norwegian artists in Tenerife. As a concrete result of the exhibition, Tenerife Espacio de las Artes and the Haukeland Collection, in cooperation with the Vigeland Museum in Oslo, and several Norwegian companies established on the Canary Island are now planning a publication documenting the whole project. Furthermore, the aim is that the exhibition is also showed in other cities in mainland Spain (Barcelona and Madrid), and in Oslo, Norway.