18 th April - 19 th May 2013

 

Langs hver en vei

 

Erlend Leirdal borrowed the title for his exhibition at RAM Galleri from the Norwegian country band Gluntans’ song by Ørnulf Holthes (Gluntans). Ørnulf Holthe "Langs hver en vei" (Along any road) that includes the phrase "a rover has to make the road his friend". The encounter between the wisdom of experience spoken of in the dance band song from 1968 and the series of wooden sculptures created last year is all about change. Change in the artwork itself, and in the way we experience the piece from our special vantage point. In Leirdal’s version the narrative truisms are replaced by impromptu stories in which the cut and grain of the wood and woodwork and the titles approach noble subjects like transitoriness, time, consumption and value choices.

Leirdal works in untraditional ways and avoids conventions about how materials should be handled, but he still proves he has complete control of the craftsmanship. Freedom of choice heightens our awareness of each piece and about the piece’s intentions unifying them as stories in an exhibition at an ethical crossroad. The exhibition presents immense aesthetic contrasts like those between the exquisite and refined wall sculpture "We could shine like two Oceans baby" and the cautiously shabby triptych "Diligence, Patience, Parsimonious". Common for all of the pieces is the method and intention of discarding and attracting, ennobling the object while enhancing our definitions of the it.

Erlend Leirdal’s work has been purchased by some of the largest art institutions in Norway. He has had individual shows and group exhibitions at home and abroad, and has created many works for public spaces.
He lives and works in Trondheim.

The exhibition opens Thursday 18 April at 19:00. Ola Hilmen (from the band Valkyrien Allstars) will provide musical entertainment.

This project received economic support from Arts Council Norway.

You are welcome to participate in our private showing for the press on Wednesday 17 April at 14:00.
Feel free to contact us at ram@ramgalleri.no

RAM Gallery is located at Bankplassen in Oslo.

Yours truly

Gudrun Eidsvik, General Manager

http://www.erlendleirdal.com/

 

 

Photo: Anne Line Bakken. We could shine like two oceans baby. Pine, mother-of-pearl. 2013