Simone Ritter is the head of department for the Trastad collections at Sør-Troms Museum, Norway's only active collection of Outsider Art. The genre Outsider Art denotes original artistic works created from a specific life situation; factors such as mental illness and inhibited development generate in some a strong urge to express themselves visually, and in this the ornamental often plays an important role. Drawing is a medium that is in constant use by Outsider Art practitioners. Pencil, felt-tip pen, ball-point pen, and a single piece of paper are readily available and made use of in moments of creativity.

In the lecture titled "Outsider Art: Lekende ornamenter og horror vacui", Ritter will talk about what Outsider Art is in a historical and contemporary perspective: about the discovery of passionate geniuses and free souls, and a brief review of the history of Art Brut/Outsider Art. She will focus specifically on Outsider Art in Norway and on the Trastad collections. Ritter also takes us through the exhibition "Ornaments of the Soul" and makes reflections on "the ornamental society - a vision of a better world with Outsider Art".

The lecture lasts for 45 minutes with the subsequent free screening of the documentary "Between Insanity and Beauty - The Art of Prinzhorn Collection" (18:00). Welcome!

Simone Ritter is the curator of the guest exhibition "Ornaments of the Soul - Ornamental drawings in Norwegian Outsider Art" during The Drawing Triennial 2019. She is also the head of department for the Trastad collections at Sør-Troms Museum, Norway's only active collection of Outsider Art.