An important exhibition at Henie Onstad Art center
Henie Onstad Art center is only a 20 minutes bus ride from Oslo center, a pearl by the Oslo fjord. The exhibition “Every moment counts” will not be on for long. I want to draw some attention to this particular exhibition and the Art Center.
Foto:VisitOslo /Tord Baklund
Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie (1912 – 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic champion in women’s singles and a Sten-time World champion. Later, Sonja decided to become a movie star. At the height of her acting career, she was one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood. Henie’s connections with Hitler made her the subject of controversy before, during, and after the War. Sonja made a significant impact on figure skating, from being an amateur hobby of girls to becoming a professional Olympic competition.
Niels Onstad
Niels Onstad (1909-1978) was an active football player playing for the Lyn football club. However, he is best known for his achievements as a shipowner and art collector.
“Hymn of Life” by Yayoi Kusama. Permanent installation.
The Henie Onstad Art Center
The couple, Henie and Onstad, married in 1956. One of the things that brought them together was their love of collecting art, even though they had pretty different tastes in the matter. In 1961 they donated their private collection of at and funds for the construction and operation of the center.
The Exhibition
Every Moment Counts—AIDS and its Feelings brings together 60 international artists and more than 200 works. The exhibition is a historical view of the AIDS pandemic from the time. Many of the items were exhibited at the museum in 1993.
Elmgreen & Dragset, Aids is Good, Business for Some
Many Art Institutions did not want to touch so-called AIDS art in the 1980s and early 1990s. Maybe because it portrayed an untreatable disease and that many artists were homosexual. The Henie Onstad center went ahead as a good example in 1993. One of the reasons today is to look at the discussion of the AIDS pandemic at the time and in retrospect with the knowledge we have today.
The exhibition shows how and why many artists felt the urge to respond to the tragedy. It presents both political activism and personal experiences. Every moment counts capture the powerful sense of love and death, hope and fear, life and its feelings.
The Photos by Fin Serck-Hansen from 1993. The “Tema Aids” is mighty and gives a strong impression on me. Both because I knew some of the people portrayed, and out of this fourteen, only one is alive today
Thankfully, we know that the information and knowledge are much better today, and the medical treatments have improved the lives of many people living with HIV/AIDS. Even though you will not be able to visit this special exhibition, Henie Onstad Art center will still be there, a short trip out of Oslo, which is very popular in the summer.
