The Munch Room in the old National Gallery has never shown anything but Edvard Munch. Now fashion photographer Knut Bry hangs there. It’s just one of the reasons to visit the photo festival Oslo Negativ over the next two weekends.
In just a few years, Oslo Negativ has become one of the most popular cultural events of the autumn. Last year, around 10,000 visitors came, and the queue stretched down the steps in front of the National Gallery. This year, the festival is also taking over the second floor. Around 200 photographers are showing work in more than 40 exhibitions, from documentary and reportage to art and fashion.
Fashion in Munch’s room
For many, the highlight will be the Munch Room. For decades, Knut Bry has helped shape how Norwegian fashion looks in pictures. Now the Preus Museum is showing a selection of his images, curated by Tina Holth and Rasmus Vasli. It’s not every day that fashion photography gets a place in one of the country’s most venerable art spaces.
Bry also appears in the agency Tinagent’s group exhibition. There, twelve photographers have worked according to a new, shared photographic dogma. Among them are Cathrine Wessel and Marthe Thu.
When photography meets danceDutch artist Casper Faassen is showing photo hybrids inspired by the Japanese painter Tōhaku Hasegawa. For the festival, he has also created a new installation together with Anaïs Touret from the Norwegian National Ballet. Dance comes up again in a conversation between Knut Bry and ballet director Ingrid Lorentzen.
Big international names
This year’s theme is passion. From Magnum Photos comes Alec Soth’s iconic “Sleeping by the Mississippi”, a journey along the river through a complex America. Cristina de Middel’s “The Afronauts” takes as its starting point Zambia’s almost forgotten space programme from 1964. Erik Kessels has built a mountain of discarded cameras. He asks a timely question: do we really need the camera any more?
Take something home
Many of the works are for sale, directly from the photographers themselves. The photo bookshop is open throughout the festival. When your feet need a break, the café in the French Room awaits with food, wine and its own events.
Practical info
Where: Nasjonalgalleriet, Universitetsgata 13
When: Friday 16 and 23 October, 2–6 pm. Saturday and Sunday 17–18 and 24–25 October, 11 am–6 pm.
Tickets: A day ticket costs NOK 250, students and seniors NOK 125, festival pass NOK 600. Children aged 12 and under go free.
Programme: oslonegativ.no/program