CAMOUFLAGE
[kam-uh-flahzh]
Group Show
Curator: Per Rutledal
29. June - 24. July 2016
The project "Camouflage" represents the culmination of four years of working with art made by veterans from wars and armed conflicts in Norway and internationally. Curator Per Rutledal, with a service background from the armed forces, has worked with Norwegian and international artists, curators, producers and academics with or without military backgrounds in order to encourage veterans to produce, document and disseminate art. So far, his efforts has resulted in workshops, plays and several other artistic initiatives.
In 2016, Stiftelsen 3,14 has had a focus on contemporary issues, and several exhibitions have discussed armed conflict. This summer we have invited curator Per Rutledal to share his ongoing project “Camouflage” with us.
Norway defines itself as a nation of peace, but in spite of this, we have participated in nearly one hundred operations in more than forty nations. Paticipation in armned conflicts severely affects the people involved. To which degree varies individually, but the traces of war will always remain, and it is important to ask what happens to our soldiers when the return home. What happens during the transition from peace to war, and vice versa? War is a personal experience but the perception among persons who share this experience may be different from person to person. The project’s focus is on the individual soldiers and their experiences. Camouflage is an exhibition where the art is the process these veterans have experienced individually and in dialogue with curator Per Rutledal, rather than on the concrete works. Stiftelsen 3,14 sees this project as an important initiativet hat allows the public access to the consequences of war and how it affects us. This exhibition enhances our understanding.
The artists come from all walks of life. Some are self-taught whereas others have trained at art academies. Some of them were artists before they left, some became creatively inspired during their service whereas others work with art in spite of their experiences. Only a few of them see themselves as artists in the sense that they live off their art, but all share the common denominator that they have worked with art for a number of years or are highly productive. For many this is their first public exhibition with works that were never intended to be shown publicly. The title, «Camouflage» refers to their service uniforms, but also to how we conceal our emotions, thoughts and even appearance after the service or battle is over. We all wear camouflage, every day and all of our lives. We adjust our appearance, actions and attitudes according to the environment we live in. Sometimes in order to stand blend in, other times in order to stand out.
Camouflage [kam-uh-flahzh] looks beyond the cover. If you have an image from your service abroad or from areas of conflict you may upload it to Instagram under #camouflage314. And if you have a story to share from your service abroad you can include it in our archive in the Vault after discussing it with the curator via his email; per@norvap.org
Artists and artwork list:
- Fellesarbeid fra Workshop for skadde veteraner under Agalaus, Voss 2015. kull/grafitt på papir. Workshop ledet av kurator Per Rutledal og kunstner og veteran John McDermott.
- Robert Rodrigues – airbrush på vrakdel/flyskrog fra Luftforsvarets C-130J-30 (Hercules) "Siv", som styrtet 15 mars 2012 i fjellet Kebnakaise i Sverige. Verket eies av 335 Luftving, Gardermoen og henger til vanlig på skvadronens minnevegg.
- prosjekt: fortelle – videoprosjekt. Veteraner og pårørende inviteres til å fortelle historien sin på video.
- papiruniformer – Combat Paper. Pågående kunstprosjekt med håndlaget papir, laget av militære uniformer
- Geir Dolonen-Marthinussen – diktet Min Brors Vokter / My Brother's Keeper. Utgitt I diktsamlingen Stillhet Overvinner Ingenting / Silence Conquers Nothing. Trykket på håndlaget papir fra Papiruni former - - Suellen Meidell – videoverket PTSD.
- Roy Birger Nilsen – fotoserien I Stillhet. 4 digitale foto, trykket på fotopapir. Verkene er I privat eie.
- Robert Rodrigues – Red/Black. Airbrush på 2 motorsykkelhjelmer. Hjelmene er i privat eie, utlånt for utstillingen
- Robert Rodrigues – airbrush på brukt forskalingsplate. Uten navn. Verket eies av kunstneren
- Suellen Meidell - Interaktiv fotoserie #Camouflage314 Memories. Veteraner verden over inviteres til å dele fotominner fra sin tjeneste via hashtagen #Camouflage314. projector på storskjerm. Suellens egne fotominner fra Afghanistan 2006 danner basen i verket.
- Anonym veteran – akryl og kull/grafitt på lerret. 3 verk i privat eie
- John McDermott – akryl på lerret. Uten navn. I privat eie
- Paul "Doc" Harald Smines – installasjonen You Can't Save Me. Personlig bekledning og utstyr fra internasjonale operasjoner, håndlaget papir (papiruniformer).
- Kim Søderstrøm – fotoserien , serie av 12 portretter av veteraner fra internasjonale operasjoner. Utdrag fra fotobokprosjektet BIDRAG.