ALT GÅR BRA – AKANTUS

The exhibition will show objects from daily life decorated with acanthus ornaments. The pieces will range from furniture, to kaketiner, silverware, and pyntehåndkle, executed with different techniques including rosemaling, woodcarving, and embroidery. This work will be put in dialog with drawings and casts of acanthus ornaments made by Alt Går Bra. The exhibition stems from Alt Går Bra’s Acanthus Project, researching the history of a millenary ornament. Starting in Ancient Greece, the acanthus became the single most prolific ornament. The motive is unique in human history since it expanded over the widest geographic area and through the longest time span. The acanthus was particularly embraced in Norway, infusing much of Norwegian traditional arts including rosemaling and stave churches. The motive is popular today among a wide public, ranging from tattoo and motorcycle enthusiasts to five-star hotels customers. The Acanthus Project studies the ornament in its archaeological, aesthetic, and philosophical dimensions. Through this leaf, the research aims to gain further understanding on issues including local, national, and global identities, as well as the relationship between art, architecture, and crafts. The portal and database www.akantus.no has mapped nearly 250 buildings ornamented with acanthus in Bergen ornamented and it invites the public to contribute photographs documenting acanthus in the domestic space. Please refer to Alt Går Bra’s website www.altgarbra.org and social media channels for talks to be produced for this exhibition. The events are free and open to the public, but will