EXHIBITION TEXT

Annika Borg

Circle Incidents

Along with contemporary art come many new techniques and discussions about what art may be. For whereas art earlier on would be inclined towards the medium specific within each art form, contemporary art seeks to discover connections in the world around us. All art contains an element of investigation, and we find this explorative, almost scientific approach to art also in Annika Borg’s exhibition.

The art of finding meaning and structure in randomness are key notions in Annika Borg’s artistic project. In the course of her studies at the Art Academy in Trondheim (1992-1996) and with an early awakened interest in scientific topics, Annika Borg saw a great artistic potential in numbers and dice. This year it is eighteen years since the artist chose the random outcomes of dice as a starting point for her art, and by systemizing this randomness, she has given order and chaos a new visual language.

Every day, since September 1994, Annika Borg has thrown six dice, once in the morning and a hundred times later in the day. For every throw of the dice the number combination is written down and recorded in a given order. This results in one spread a day, one binder a month and one shelf a year. Based on this huge archive (which is exposed at Dora in Trondheim from 10 November 2012), the random rows of numbers have so far been transformed to, among other things, ordered dots and lines. In the exhibition Circle Incidents Annika Borg takes us even further into the possible visual expressions of the recorded number combinations, this time via drawings, animation, sculpture and sound.

The artist has now moved towards a more organic and complex expression than in her previous projects. Visually, the new transformations are based on a starting point, a combination of semicircular shapes, a set of rules for further processing and interconnection of these, as well as end points. Thus the exhibition shows different ways to investigate the inherent nature of this distinctive numerical material. Annika Borg wishes to give this kind of constructed and transformed nature an expression which allows for a new approach to thinking about randomness as well as systems. Through study, the numerical material is given different dimensions, more senses are being activated, more experiences created, and in this way new paths into the material are opened up for the artist as well as for the audience.

In this exhibition the intrinsic value as well as the infinite variation in outcomes of random phenomena are pointed out. In this way Annika Borg becomes an artist who increases our awareness and thereby reminds us of the value of the coincidences in our own lives. It is all about how we relate to these everyday coincidences and how we may explore them further. With this exhibition Annika Borg creates intellectual and playful expressions which stimulate perception as well as reflection and expand our experience of art and what it may be.

Annika Borg (b. 1964 in Stockholm, Sweden) lives and works in Trondheim.

Anniken Storhaug, art educator and project manager, Trondheim Kunstmuseum
2012

EVENTS DURING THE EXHIBITION PERIOD

Wednesday, November 14
Den kulturelle spaserstokken "Annika Borg - Ett og etthundre terningkast om dagen" - guided tour of the exhibition by a facilitator.

Sunday, November 18
Family Sunday "Lek med terninger, tall og tegning" - guided tour for families and open workshop with guidance from a facilitator.

Saturday, December 1
The concert performance "Hva kommer nå...?" with Eldbjørg Raknes, Frode Eggen, Rob Waring and Tor Breivik, in the exhibition and with artist Annika Borg as a guest.