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Norwegian Crafts honours Nordic ceramic artistry at Ceramic Brussels' second edition
Norwegian Crafts presents Format gallery's works at Ceramic Brussels 2025
Image: Thibault De Schepper
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Norwegian Crafts honours Nordic ceramic artistry at Ceramic Brussels' second edition

The leading non-profit promoting contemporary Norwegian crafts spotlights Norway's rich ceramic traditions and the works of its artists and galleries at the event this year.

by Simran Gandhi
Published on : Jan 23, 2025

Ceramic is a material that everyone, creative or not, has encountered in myriad forms and functions. Ceramic Brussels, the first international contemporary art fair dedicated to ceramics, unveiled its second edition yesterday, bringing together more than 60 galleries, institutions and key players in ceramics in a distinct scenography.

In attendance is the Oslo-based non-profit Norwegian Crafts, which unveils a compelling narrative at the art and design event running from January 23 – 26, 2025, showcasing how Norway's contributions to ceramics transcend artisanal roots. Promoting contemporary Norwegian crafts on the international stage, the organisation's programme at Ceramic Brussels 2025 highlights the nation's rich ceramic traditions and innovative works by Norwegian artists and galleries.

The ongoing fair highlights ceramic's tactile and transformative potential as a creative medium that tethers ancient techniques to profound contemporary expressions, an opportunity that Hege Veronica Henriksen, director at Norwegian Crafts, describes as pivotal for reinforcing Norwegian Crafts' international presence. "Our mission has always been to strengthen the position of Norwegian crafts internationally, and this fair offers an excellent opportunity for Norwegian galleries and artists to showcase their work alongside renowned global figures in ceramics," she shares in an official statement.

Ceramic Brussels and Norwegian Crafts jointly present a curated, striking roster of five distinguished Norwegian galleries—Format, RAM Galleri, SKOG Art Space, QB Gallery and KIOSKEN—who are showcasing Nordic ceramic artistry through bold sculptural designs and intricate material explorations through "works of prominent and emerging Norwegian artists", according to the organisers. Accompanied by immersive talks and curated displays, this 'Norway focus' section, debuting as the fair's first country-specific event, provides a glimpse into a vibrant ceramic landscape that salvages the medium from its siloed perceptions, revealing an avant-garde visage.

With its historical depth and forward-thinking approach, "the focus on Norway will take the form of a vast immersion at the heart of a vibrant art scene", says Gilles Parmentier, co-director at Ceramic Brussels, in the press release. "This approach is in line with our commitment to diversity, innovation and cultural dialogue within the fair," he continues. "We have discovered a very diverse art scene in Norway, with a wide range of approaches and practices of ceramics," shares Jean-Marc Dimanche, co-director of Ceramic Brussels.

Below, STIR enlists the five key exhibits by Norwegian Crafts on display at Ceramic Brussels 2025.

Format

Established in 1991, Format, a gallery for material-based art in Oslo, Norway, displays an evocative tableau of the country's ceramic mastery at the event, embodying a confluence of innovation and tradition. The gallery displays colossal hand-moulded forms comprising stacked cylindrical tubes by Nordic ceramicist Torbjørn Kvasbø.

Meanwhile, Norwegian artist Eyvind Solli Andreassen explores precarious (dis)balance and sculptural tension in his pointed ceramic containers through coiling techniques. As the press release mentions, "By reimagining ceramic containers, Andreassen examines how material processing alters the perception of form and extends the history of ceramics."

European designer Pauliina Pöllänen's allegorical, fragmented depictions of the human body extend Format's narrative into themes of mythology, materiality and anthropological reflection. "The body is represented through porous, vessel-like forms inspired by the Viennese Secessionist movement, nature and folklore while addressing fetishised notions of the body and material," Pöllänen describes in an official press statement.

QB Gallery

Founded in 2014, QB Gallery dedicates itself to Norwegian and Scandinavian contemporary art. Here, it presents works with an eclectic, non-hierarchical approach to ceramics and beyond. The Oslo-based gallery introduces Swedish artist Nellie Jonsson's evocative ceramic sculptures that transform everyday objects into functional art pieces by coalescing animated expressions with poignant reflections on consumer culture and memory. Her sculptural installations celebrate individuality and the overlooked beauty of the mundane, embodying QB's ethos of making art accessible while pushing creative boundaries.

RAM Galleri

The European design gallery reveals a dynamic showcase of abstract ceramic art featuring works by Tokyo-born sculptor Takumi Morozumi, who explores the intersection of pop culture and cross-cultural identity. His textured sculpture art pieces offer a playful yet profound commentary on the interplay of tradition and modernity. RAM Galleri also displays works by Korean designer Lydia SooJin Park, who crafts layered forms in clay imbued with emotional depth, relativity and accumulation. "Inspired by Edvard Munch's 'Art Grows From Joy and Sorrow', Park reflects on life's dualities, blending nature and everyday stories in her work," mentions the show's description.

Norwegian ceramic artist Mingshu Li's cannular sculpture reinterprets the historical motif stråmønster (strawflowers pattern), merging personal narratives with a centuries-old design heritage to reflect the richness of cultural exchange. Meanwhile, British artist Sam Chatto complements the eclectic collection with his warped art, capturing the metamorphic power of process and material, reflecting "the passage of time and natural cycles".

KIOSKEN

Bergen-based interdisciplinary design studio KIOSKEN exhibits a contemporary design collection that blurs boundaries between art, design and material narratives. The gallery presents sculpture designer Eirik Falckner's comprehensive designs inspired by fossils and natural forms and delves into the primal tension between humanity and ecosystems. Enunciating Falckner's ceramic designs incorporating organic interventions, the press statement notes, "Some of his sculptures are placed in active beehives, where bees build upon the forms with honey and beeswax. A central theme in his work is how we, as humans, relate to ecosystems and other living organisms."

Local artist Ali Gallefoss fabricates visceral forms from aluminium and clay, resulting in unanticipated textures and experiential objects. On the other hand, Ingeborg Tysse's deconstructed effigies and scenographic installations interweave myth, humour and animistic perspectives, challenging societal norms while traversing the subconscious.

SKOG Art Space

SKOG is a modern art space in Galgeberg, Oslo, which focuses on "showcasing material-based art and supporting newly established artists, contributing meaningfully to Oslo's dynamic art scene", as outlined in the gallery's official release. SKOG displays local ceramicist Irene Nordli's imploding, figurative forms exploring body, memory and cultural heritage while challenging and reimagining classical ideals. The gallery also presents Danish artist Anders Hald's striking black-glazed bas-reliefs from his Passing as Human series, which "draw on the classical frieze to reinterpret mythological storytelling through abstract and figurative imagery. By addressing contemporary human behaviour, Hald invites viewers to engage with a spectrum of emotions and narratives deeply rooted in the human condition", the organisers share. In conjunction are Ebbe Arneberg's transformative installations, reminiscent of the pebble beaches of Norway.

Alongside these Norwegian galleries, Ceramic Brussels also showcases collections from international design and art galleries spotlighting Nordic artists through a global lens. Belgium-based Spazio Nobile gallery presents Ann Beate Tempelhaug's expressive ceramic artworks while US-based Hostler Burrows/ HB381 delves into regional craftsmanship with works by Marit Tingleff, Sigve Knutson and Helen Hausland, embodying continuity and innovative design. Peach Corner, based in Denmark, has on display the works of Sisse Lee, who combines archaeology and pop culture in narrative installations. Together, Norwegian Crafts' distinctive showcase at Ceramic Brussels 2025 weaves a dynamic narrative of tradition and contemporary exploration of ceramic as a creative medium and material of expression.

Norwegian Crafts' exhibition is on view from January 22 – 26, 2025, during Ceramic Brussels, in Tour & Taxis, Brussels, Belgium.

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