Unique exhibition to celebrate Munch’s 150th anniversary

A unique collection of famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s works from both Norway and abroad will be collected and displayed in Oslo early next year.

The exhibition aims to be the biggest and best Munch exhibition in history, but still lacks all the necessary financing.

"This will be the only chance in our lifetime to see this many of Edvard Munch’s works in one city," Ingebjørg Ydstie, the curator for the exhibition, tells NRK.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Munch Museum and the National Museum of Art in Oslo. The National gallery will display works from Munch’s earlier period, up to 1903, whereas the Munch Museum will show the development up until his death in 1944.

Although certain works are simply too fragile to be transported, such as "Sick Girl" and "Death of Marat," several museums abroad have agreed to lend the Munch Museum in Oslo their works. The paintings will come from New York, Boston, Berlin and Rome, as well as several private owners.

"There will be something for both kids and seniors, for the average person as well as for the art expert who may spend a week at the museum," Ydstie explains. "The great thing about Edvard Munch is that he is so universal. People understand his works without much background knowledge."

The planning has started, but the funding needs to come into place before the opening in summer 2013. While in Norway the works will not be covered by the insurance provided by the government, which will also have to be added to the bill.

"We hope that the government and the City of Oslo are positive so that the money comes through," says Director of the Munch Museum, Audun Eckhoff.

Along with Ydstie, he thinks the anniversary exhibition will draw a large audience of both Norwegians and foreign visitors that have developed a renewed interest for the country’s biggest artist.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:51