Haunted House / Hjemsøkt hus (2025)

"The etymological root of the Norwegian word hjemsøke means 'to visit a home (with good or bad intent),' cf. Old Norse heimsǿkja or sǿkja heim." – The Norwegian Academy Dictionary

Drawing from archival material, Fiksdal and Siljeholm explore Kunstnernes Hus both as a structural and social framework—built by and for artists—and what it implies in terms of inclusion and exclusion, alienation and marginalization. How have these dynamics operated in the institution as a workplace, as an exhibition venue, and as a participant in the public discourse on art and cultural policy in Norway over the past century?

At the center of the installation is a monumental bed, where visitors are invited to lie down and let the house’s dark matter seep through. The bed and the act of sleeping give rise to dreams and fantasies, but also nightmares and delusions. Within the installation, one can listen to a soundscape where fragments and figures from the house’s archive are brought to life—artists, critics, directors, and funding authorities. Their voices are accompanied by organ music, a children's choir, and field recordings from the house itself. At various times during the exhibition period, three dancers will haunt the installation.

→ https://kunstnerneshus.no/