Sleep is the Sum of Life
Ann Cathrin November Høibo
25. mars kl.14
Kristiansand Kunsthall proudly presents the exhibition Søvn er livets Sum (Sleep is the Sum of Life) by Ann Cathrin November Høibo. In this exhibition Kristiansand Kunsthall wants to highlight one of our leading artists from the region who has excelled both nationally and internationally.
Høibo has made a name for herself by combining tapestry with other textiles, objects and sculptures. She is a former student of another prominent textile artist from Kristiansand, Else Marie Jacobsen (1927-2012), and follows in the historical tradition pointing back to Frida Hansen (1855-1931) and Hannah Ryggen (1894-1970). In these pioneers’ footprints who gave textile art social relevance and made it current in contemporary art, Høibo has established her own formal language. She has also contributed to making way for a wave of textile art in the arts scene in the past years and has a leading role in what is called the material shift in arts and crafts.
In her artistry Høibo plays on extremes and contrasts, and she approaches her works both conceptually and sensually. Her tapestries are formed by the artist’s presence and surroundings, atmosphere and natural phenomenons like the changing of daylight and its transition to the night’s darkness, sun and moon cycles affecting the tide, sleep and dreams. Both her weaving technique and the context the works are placed in is detached from the traditions of textile media, but at the same time Høibo connects to lines going way back in history when she weaves with wool from Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace sheep. She also brings her loom with her into the exhibition hall and will be working on it throughout the exhibition period. In this way her method and process will be visible to the audience, and we get insight into the immediate work process directly influenced by the surroundings.
The exhibition also includes other objects and sculptures which, in dialogue with the tapestries, create an installation that connects the exhibition halls. A monumental stage carpet stretches across the first hall. The soft textile is juxtaposed with dry coconut mats, industrial raw materials, furniture and quarts stones surrounded by metal structures. In each other’s presence the contrasting elements influence and enhance each other.
A newly produced artist portrait is also be presented in the exhibition. Høibo has invited video artist Thyra Dragseth to follow her through the production of the exhibition. The soundtrack is made by musician Carmen Villain.
April 27th we are inviting to an artist talk with art historian Jorunn Veiteberg, and we are also looking forward to a guided tour in the exhibition with the comedian Francisco Briseno.
Ann Cathrin November Høibo is born in 1979 and she works and lives in Kristiansand. She studied at Statens Kunstakademi in Oslo (2005-2011) and Städelschule Frankfurt am Main (2010-2011). Høibo has had solo exhibitions at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (2012), Kunstnerforbundet (2017) and Sørlandets Kunstmuseum (2019), among others. The last time she had an exhibition in Kristiansand Kunsthall was in 2013. She is represented by the galleries STANDARD (OSLO) and the Carl Freedman Gallery in London. She has also contributed in many group exhibitions both nationally and internationally including Kunsthall Stavanger (2018), Turner Company in Margate, England (2017), Bergen Kunsthall (2016), Astrup Fearnley Museum (2015) and White Columns New York (2013). Høibo has also done monumental commissions for Agder Prison (2021) and the Norwegian Embassy in Washington (2021). Her works are purchased by Nasjonalmuseet, Astrup Fearnley, KODE, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Sørlandets kunstmuseum and the Norwegian parliament, to name a few.