Music with a needle - no room for this art in Oslo?

BRYLLUPSFESTEN: Utsnitt fra 'De fire årstider'.
Foto: Leonard B. Jansen, Setesdalsmuseet/NRK

NRK reported today, Thorvald Moseid's fantastic 62 m embroidery is not to be exhibited after all in Oslo's new opera in Bjørvika.

I do not know the full detailed background for the decision (e.g. whether the architects, opera directors or art committe members were ever offered the opportunity to "design in" this art work from the outset rather than considering it's spatial integration afterwards, etc. It seems to have been suggested by a recurrent initiative by Oslo University's former music science professor Bjørkvold leading to a recent consideration, which so far has not succeeded). Anyway, I hope it is possible to find another attractive room for it in Oslo soon.

Because Moseid's art work such as the Four Seasons really deserves to be exhibited in a good place to be seen by the public including international guests, see some background info provided by Bjørkvold here ... http://www.freidig.no/glimt2006.html

When it was first exhibited in 1977 people were queing up as to a rock concert, says Jon-Roar Bjørkvold. So it is a shame just to store away this unique piece of art. Rather, it deserves to be exhibited and experienced recurrently in an accessible place for the public. Being part of the crowd who enjoyed seeing it in 1977, I expect this decision heard on the news today will trigger serious efforts and a creative search by "whoever it may concern" as soon as possible: to ensure that this art work will become exhibited again on a regular basis and preserved.

Why, you may ask. To give a quick background Thorvald Moseid (1917-2000) was a magician with his embroidered works. Born in Setesdal, a valley in the south of Norway with cultural traditions back to medival times at least, he was inspired for example by old myths (e.g. Orfeus and Euridice) as well as Middle ages embroidery techniques. However, he was able to recreat the myths and themes and transform them into something highly special.

The Four Seasons has a moving gestalting of man's lifeworlds throughout the year conveyed through the colorful embroidery (a project that took 16 years of the artist's lifetime). Perhaps one may say that Moseid conveyed a celebration of not only myths but life itself through his colourful threads.

The Four Season work is currently owned by some of Norway's publishing houses Aschehoug and Gyldendal (and it was for some years exhibited in Norwegian University Academy Press's previous HQ building). It is not however the first time a unique cultural gift or large works of art strive to find a public room in Oslo... I wonder who will pick up the challenge and resque this "music with the needle" (Bjørkvold's term) for the public good and future generations...