Merete Joelsen Aune (b. 1984, Oslo) lives and works in Oslo, Norway. Her art practice comprises drawing, text, photography and artists’ books. Aune received her education from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and the University of Bergen. Current and recent solo exhibitions include Nebulae Surveys at Trafo Kunsthall, Asker (2023) and Island Universes at Sandefjord Kunstforening, Sandefjord (2022). Her work has been featured in group exhibitions in Norway and abroad, including Vestfold Kunstsenter, Tønsberg; Drammen Museum, Drammen; Kunstforeningen Verdens Ende, Tjøme; Helsinki-Malmi lentoasema, Helsinki and Tegnerforbundet, Oslo.
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Merete Joelsen Aune (f. 1984, Oslo) bor og arbeider i Oslo. Hennes kunstpraksis omfatter tegning, tekst, fotografi og kunstnerbøker. Aune er utdannet med master fra Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo. Hun har også en bachelor i kunsthistorie fra Universitetet i Bergen. Aktuelle og tidligere separatutstillinger inkluderer Nebulae Surveys ved Trafo Kunsthall, Asker (2023) og Island Universes ved Sandefjord Kunstforening, Sandefjord (2022). Hennes arbeider har blitt vist i gruppeutstillinger i Norge og utlandet, inkludert ved Vestfold Kunstsenter, Tønsberg; Drammen Museum, Drammen; Kunstforeningen Verdens Ende, Tjøme; Helsinki-Malmi lentoasema, Helsinki og Tegnerforbundet, Oslo.
Text by Hedevig Anker, curator of the solo exhibition Nebulae Surveys, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker (2023):
'In order to look out into space, and what is going on there, you have to let your inner gaze work. My fascination with Merete Joelsen Aune's art lies in the fact that here we are taken out to the outermost dimensions of the atmosphere and at the same time into the inexhaustible universe of imagination. Through drawing, photography and watercolour, Aune investigates the expansive powers of the stars. She creates open and associative investigations where imagination and science slide into each other, where we can think infinitely big, while at the same time stringing a strict bow to the here and now; to pencil and brush on paper. Through her personal interpretations of the slow life course of the stars, Aune folds the individually experienced time together with the timelessness of the universe. In this way, she opens the door to a realization that we ourselves are firmly connected to the slow cycle of space. She creates concrete ideas of the dimensions beyond the visible, where the actual and the imagined become equal sizes, where we are reminded that a small stone on the beach is in direct connection with the infinitely slow life of the planets'.
- H. A.
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Tekst av Hedevig Anker, kurator for soloutstillingen Nebulae Surveys, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker (2023):
'For å se ut i verdensrommet, og det som foregår der, må man la sitt indre blikk få virke. Min fascinasjon for Merete Joelsen Aunes kunst ligger i at vi her blir tatt med ut til atmosfærens ytterste dimensjoner og samtidig inn i fantasiens utømmelige univers. Gjennom tegning, fotografi og akvarell undersøker hun stjernenes ekspansive krefter. Hun skaper åpne og assosiative undersøkelser der fantasi og vitenskap glir over i hverandre, der vi kan tenke uendelig stort, samtidig som det spennes en stringent bue til her og nå; til blyant og pensel på papir. Gjennom sine personlige fortolkninger av stjernenes langsomme livsløp folder Aune den individuelt erfarte tiden sammen med universets tidløshet. Slik åpner hun for en erkjennelse av at vi selv er fast forbundet med verdensrommets langsomme kretsløp. Hun skaper konkrete forestillinger av dimensjonene bortenfor det synlige, der det faktiske og det forestilte blir til likeverdige størrelser, der vi blir minnet om at en liten stein på stranden står i direkte forbindelse med planetenes uendelig langsomme liv'.
- H. A.
2012 -2014 Master of Visual Arts, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2009 -2012 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2007 -2008 One-year programme in Art and Design, Oslo University College, NO
2004 -2007 Bachelor in Art History, University of Bergen, NO
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Nebula Surveys, curated by Hedevig Anker, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, NO
2022 Island Universes, Sandefjord Kunstforening, NO
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Høstutstillingen, Statens 136. kunstutstilling, Kunstnernes hus, Oslo (Upcoming)
2021 Østlandsutstillingen, Vestfold kunstsenter, NO & Trafo Kunsthall/Galleri Dikemark, NO
2020 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
2019 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
GIFC & Velvet Ropes, Galleri Golsa, Oslo, NO
Østlandsutstillingen, Kunstforeningen Verdens ende, NO
2018 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
The Drawing School (SHKS) 200 years anniversary, Alumni Exhibition, Oslo, NO
GIFC, Galleri Golsa, Oslo, NO
AVTRYKK, Hå gamle prestegard, Jæren, NO
2017 Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair, Moscow, RU
Concerning the Spiritual in Art, The Norwegian Institute at Athens, Athen, GR
Print Matters, Gallery Norske Grafikere, Oslo, NO
Mazes, Nebulae, Sedimentations, House of Foundation, Moss, NO
with Monica Flakk & Kjersti Lande
2016 En kollektiv psykogeografisk guide til Oslo, The Drawing Biennial 2016, Oslo, NO
The Drawing Biennial 2016, SKISSEN, Tegnerforbundet, Oslo, NO
Art in Case, Helsinki-Malmi lentoasema, Helsinki, FI
Zodiac, LYNX, Oslo, NO
Platons huskestue, Tegnerforbundet, Oslo, NO
2014 The Intimate Sufferings of a Musician, Window Box, Pushwagner Gallery, Oslo, NO (solo)
Knock Knock, Norsk Billedhuggerforening, Oslo, NO
MA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2013 En kollektiv kraftanstrengelse for tapte saker, PODIUM, Oslo, NO
It’s a Girl, Akershus Kunstsenter, Lillestrøm, NO
2012 BA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
ARTISTS' BOOKS
2022 Sometimes I Am Light Years Away, Artists' Book
2017 I Have Seen How the Universe Swallows, Artists’ Book
2014 Du må ikke forveksle reservehjulet med fuglen, Artists’ Book
2012 I Am a Bird Now, Artists’ Book
PUBLICATIONS / PRESS
2021 (melkeveien),Text for publication made by artist Kjersti Lande
Catalogue, Østlandsutstillingen 2021
Artist interview, Tegnerforbundet/ The Norwegian Drawing Association
2019 Catalogue, Østlandsutstillingen 1979-2019
2018 Untitled poetic text published in OSLO PILOT (2015–17)—a project investigating the role of art in and for the public space—laying the groundwork for Oslo Biennial First Edition, 2018, Mousse Publishing
2017 Poem published in The Inklings # 1, Volume 1
Cold Current, Contemporary Artists from Norway, Benetton Collection
2016 Catalogue, SKISSEN, The Drawing Biennial 2016
2015 Poem published in Bøygen # 1, 27. årgang
Poem published in ETTER # 3 f
2014 Catalogue, MA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2011 Catalogue, BA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2019 Participant in closed competition, KORO Public Art Norway
ARTIST TALKS + LECTURES + ART ASSISTANT WORK ETC
2016 Artist talk and drawing workshop, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
Guest lecturer, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2015 Cover art and design for Norwegian singer/songwriter SVANES
2013 Art assistant to Norwegian artist Tiril Schrøder
Art assistant to Norwegian artist Vanna Bowles
GRANTS
2023 Diversestipend /Artist grant, Kulturrådet / Arts Council Norway
2022 Prosjektstøtte/ Artist grant, Kulturrådet/ Arts Council Norway
2019 Artist grant, Ingrid Lindbäck Langaard stiftelse
2018 Reisestipend/Travel grant, Tegnerforbundet/ The Norwegian Drawing Art Association
2016 Artist grant, Oslo Kommune/ The City of Oslo
2012 Artist grant, Statens stipend for kunstnere
MEMBERSHIPS IN ARTIST ASSOCIATIONS
NBK- Norske Billedkunstnere | The Association of Norwegian Visual Artists
TF- Tegnerforbundet | The Norwegian Drawing Association
UKS- Unge Kunstneres Samfund | Young Artists’ Society
BO- Billedkunstnerne i Oslo | The Association of Visual Artists Oslo
BONO- Billedkunst Opphavsrett i Norge | Norwegian Visual Artists Copyright Society