About the exhibition

"The etymological root of the Norwegian word hjemsøke means 'to visit a home (with good or bad intent),' cf. Old Norse heimsǿkja or sǿkja heim." – The Norwegian Academy Dictionary

Drawing from archival material, Fiksdal and Siljeholm explore Kunstnernes Hus both as a structural and social framework—built by and for artists—and what it implies in terms of inclusion and exclusion, alienation and marginalization. How have these dynamics operated in the institution as a workplace, as an exhibition venue, and as a participant in the public discourse on art and cultural policy in Norway over the past century?

At the center of the installation is a monumental bed, where visitors are invited to lie down and let the house’s dark matter seep through. The bed and the act of sleeping give rise to dreams and fantasies, but also nightmares and delusions. Within the installation, one can listen to a soundscape where fragments and figures from the house’s archive are brought to life—artists, critics, directors, and funding authorities. Their voices are accompanied by organ music, a children's choir, and field recordings from the house itself. At various times during the exhibition period, three dancers will haunt the installation.

Credits

Concept, direction, choreography and manuscript

Ingri Fiksdal and Helle Siljeholm

Composition and sound design

Therese Næss Diesen and Liv Kristin Holmberg

Scenography

Signe Becker

Co-creating performers

Sunniva Vikør Egenes, Pernille Holden and Louis Schou-Hansen

Cynthia (3 masks)

Cynthia is the alter-ego of Signe Becker. She is a pre-historic ghost floating though both Becker's and other peoples' projects. In Haunted House, she is choreographed by Fiksdal and Siljeholm in collaboration with the performers.

Special effects/masks

Fanny Antonsdóttir

Light design

Martin Myrvold

Voices in the sound installation

Gisken Armand, Nils Johnson, Birgitte LArsen, Tobias Santelmann and Oddgeir Thune

Sound recordings

Therese Næss Diesen, Marit Kamsvåg and Carl Svensson

Choir

Majorstua Barne- og Ungdomskor

Conductor

Sindre Beitohaugen

Live organ performance

Liv Kristin Holmberg

Distribution

Nicole Schuchardt

Photo

Tor S. Ulstein, Kunstdok / Kunstnernes Hus & Studio Abrakadabra / Kunstnernes Hus

Production

Kunstnernes Hus and Fiksdal dans stiftelse

Co-production

Kloden theater

Big thanks to

Kristine Jærn Pilgaard, Anne Hilde Neset, teknisk team på Kunstnernes Hus, Marit Paasche, Synne Vedvik Jørgensen, Mari Meen Halsøy, Showbox og Scenekunstbruket

Supported by

Arts Council Norway