A modernist collection characterized by abstract expressionism and informal painting
The Voksenåsen art collection was revitalized in 2019 when Anne Pira of the Norwegian Art Council was commissioned to curate the original collection and, at the same time, expand it with new acquisitions.
The “new” art at Voksenåsen consists of works that engage in a dialogue with or complement the art in the original collection—a modernist collection characterized by abstract expressionism and informal painting. The older collection also includes several works linked to Surrealism. Metaphysical concepts, a strong emphasis on materials, and the fact that only a few works in the older collection were created by women influenced the selection of new works.
The new collection features works by both older and younger artists. For example, a photograph by Monica Englund (born 1935) is displayed next to a sculpture by Sara Møller (born 1982).
In choosing the placement, the aim has been to highlight art-historical connections and other narratives. The overall experience is reminiscent of a mobile, where pauses and rhythm are key to achieving balance and bringing out the building’s inherent energy.
A central work in the collection is Eva Løfdahl’s*Underfrequency Holder*. The title is a play on author Eckard Tolle’s concept ofthe “frequency holder,” which he uses to describe people who work quietly simply by being, and who anonymously carry all of the world’s vital values. Løfdahl’s work is at once “merely” a minimal sculpture without deeper meaning and an ingeniously constructed instrument for capturing the universe’s most finely tuned signals.
The artworks are displayed in the common areas and are easily accessible to everyone who visits Voksenåsen.