Torbjorn Rodland
dal 26/9/2002 al 16/11/2002
Segnalato da
26/9/2002
Torbjorn Rodland
ArsFutura Galerie, Zurich
Black exhibition. Along with the Norwegian photographer Torbjorn Rodland arsFutura fell under the spell of dark Nordic atavism and is pleased to present his photographs in the gallery for the first time.In the Black-Series Rodland focuses for the first time on the dark side after his excessive love for the colour white, beauty, innocence and light in his earlier work.
Black exhibition
Along with the Norwegian photographer Torbjørn Rødland (* 1970,
lives in Oslo) arsFutura fell under the spell of dark Nordic
atavism and is pleased to present his photographs in the gallery
for the first time.
Rødlands interest in Nordic symbols and religiousness has led to a
series of dark-romantic portraits of four living Black Metal
legends: Infernus, Frost, Fenriz and Abbath are posing in Nordic
forest landscapes. These Norwegian musicians are obsessed with
chaos, destruction and pagan mythology of the north. Rødland is
challenging the rigorous self-manifestation of the Metal Scene's
icons, unveiling sensitivity and spiritualism. Morbidity has been
transformed into an unexpected romantic union with nature. The
merging of related fictions of the artist and the musicians about
nature, irrationality and Nordic spirituality often lead Rødland's
images to an ambiguous sentimentality.
The boundary between posing and authenticity begins to blur, when
Fenriz no. 1 and no. 2 (2001) is in a melancholy and reflective
mood. The irrational forces of nature seem overwhelming at this
moment. A mythical dark landscape is also evoked in The Peak
(2001), in which the occult forces of spirits prevail. The rituals
appear as irritating courses: Frosts no. 4 takes hold of a trunk
wearing a metal spiked gantlet on his wrist. Appearing as a shadow
Frost no.1 and no. 3(2001) seeks to unite with the dark forces of
nature. Infernus(2001) and Abbath no.1 (2001) present themselves
dramatically as dark sons of the underworld.
In the BLACK-Series Rødland focuses for the first time on the dark
side after his excessive love for the colour white, beauty,
innocence and light in his earlier work. Religion and romantic
nature are recurring subjects also of the Priests (2000), White
(2000) and Nudists (1999) -Series. Image production as related to
advertising aesthetics is another familiar element in Rødlands
work. It always contains a disturbing moment articulated in the
innocence of a regained romantic nature.
Text: Sabine Rusterholz (2002)
Vernissage am Freitag, 27. September 2002
18.00 - 21.00 Uhr
ARSFUTURA GALLERY,
Bleicherweg 45, CH-8002 Zürich
Tel. +41 1 201 88 10 Fax +41 1 201 88 11