2025. evolving installation at Sletten shopping centre, Bergen, Norway as part of KODEs 'kunstsatellitt', accompanied by walk I-IV

material: images and text fragments from the archive of the shopping centre on Hahnemühle (various dimensions), miniature landscapes built by the visitors, photos, coffee and grapes and biscuits

For one month, I get to use the former shop to host and install an art project rooted in / related to the neighbourhood. I seek to focus on the the town planning concepts from the 1950ies and 60ies. Life between buildings: How are these areas at Sletten being perceived today?

The space quickly gets very colourful, very crowded, and I try to tame the chaos, at least to a certain extent. Is it possible 'to make art' in a goldfishbowl-setting, surrounded by advertising for skincare products and lamb chops, and the constant noise of the escalators right above? People stop by, stay, talk, draw, write, assemble - about what matters to them, about their lifes, how they experience the neighbourhood - and I get the impression that they need to be listened to. Loneliness clearly is an issue in our times. But is this 'art' - this question is probably completely irrelevant at this moment. Are we in 'etterkrigtidens / post-war-period's promised land' as one guest mentioned? Many people keep coming back to observe how the space keeps changing, and conversations just continue. And I keep making more coffee.

Thank you to Eli Lea and the team at KODE for their support.