Trollkrem's "Deepdownbelow"
Located in a scenic coastal town just outside of Oslo by the name of Moss, Momentum 9, the Nordic Biennial for Contemporary Art, is now underway. This year’s theme is “Alienation”, and Momentum’s curators have worked hard to provide a comprehensive event that goes beyond the scope of the traditional biennial. That means, in addition to tried-and-true formats such as installations, film works, and sculptures, ...read more
Trollkrem's "Deepdownbelow"
Located in a scenic coastal town just outside of Oslo by the name of Moss, Momentum 9, the Nordic Biennial for Contemporary Art, is now underway. This year’s theme is “Alienation”, and Momentum’s curators have worked hard to provide a comprehensive event that goes beyond the scope of the traditional biennial. That means, in addition to tried-and-true formats such as installations, film works, and sculptures, Momentum also includes non-traditional interdisciplinary works like comic books, novels and podcasts too. Despite a summer filled with art events deemed disappointing and uninspired by most critics, it’s refreshing to see a biennial that forces visitors outside of their comfort zones. Though the entire programme presents enough work to Housed inside the Momentum Kunsthalle, Trollkrem – an artist duo comprising Tor Erik Bøe and Jennie Hagevik Bringaker – have built an elaborate seascape made up of moss-covered boulders, an inflatable hot tub and VR goggles. Entitled "Deepdownbelow" the immersive work serves as an exploration of the alien, unknown environment that exists inside the ocean's deepest layers. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the artist-made habitat, and are invited to go so far as to take a dip in the hot tub if they wish. These tangible additions all serve to make the virtual performance – a 7-minute video performance of beautiful seapunk mermaids drinking and lounging – feel all the more real. Dolphin calls are even incorporated into electronic beats to create a soothing, aquatic ambience. A selection of swimwear designed by Norwegian designer Siv Støldal sits nearby the installation, and visitors have the option to try-on one of the streetwear-influenced pieces for the full experience. For Momentum 9's press preview in June, Trollkrem offered a live action interpretation of "Deepdownbelow". Taking place along Moss' rocky shoreline, performers greeted guests like true sirens of the sea and offered various jugs of murky-coloured elixirs – concoctions which remain a mystery to this day. Whale meat was fed to the truly adventurous, and journalists were taken out of their comfort zone just as Momentum's curators intended. For those unable to attend Momentum 9, Trollkrem has uploaded their VR performance onto YouTube here. Fill a bath, turn off the lights and watch on your phone as the collective's undersea vision comes to life.
SLEEK 27 June, 2017
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