Art space to open in Norwegian caviar factory

The village Henningsvær in the Lofoten archipelago will receive a new international art venue built by collectors Venke and Rolf Hoff

By Clemens Bomsdorf | Web only
Published online 12 Jul 10 ( News )

A new arts venue opened in an old caviar factory

Copenhagen. The Norwegian archipelago Lofoten has become home to an international art venue, housed in an old caviar factory in the village Henningsvær.

The new art space is being inaugurated this month with a temporary show by Norwegian street artist couple “Dolk og Pøbel” that will be on view the whole of July. Following the exhibition, the building will be renovated by Norwegian architectural firm Element and reopen permanently to the public in 2012. “We have had many international artists visiting us here. They all loved the place and wanted to come back. That is a good prerequisite for adding a international exhibition hall to this part of Norway”, Venke Hoff, the building’s owner, told The Art Newspaper . For example New Delhi-based filmmaker Amar Kanwar produced the film Henningsvær while staying at the Hoff’s summer house in the village.

Venke Hoff and her husband Rolf are one of the main collectors for contemporary art in the Nordic countries. “Our aim is not establishing a venue for showing parts of our own collection, but inviting international artists for shows”, said Hoff. As no exhibition plan exists yet she did not want to speculate on artists that could be invited to show, but Hoff says she wants to arrange exhibitions that could as well be held in New York or Berlin.

The approximately 500 sq. m building, fittingly called Kaviarfabrikken Galleri, will have 160 sq. m of exhibition space as well as an apartment, which can be used for residencies, and a room for cultural events. The gallery will also house a permanent display of works by Norwegian photographer and artist Rune Johansen. The Norwegian costal cultural heritage office is supporting the project with up to 500,000 krone.

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