Helle Siljeholm & Ingri Fiksdal
Haunted House
In Haunted House, Ingri Fiksdal and Helle Siljeholm dive into the archives of Kunstnernes Hus and the building’s nearly 100-year-long history. They search for alternative narratives about the art institution in an effort to summon both the haunted and the haunting aspects of the house. Through sound, light, and performance, they create an immersive choreographic installation.
When
07.11.25 – 21.12.25
Where
Skylight halls
Opening hours
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Price
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"The etymological root of the Norwegian word hjemsøke means 'to visit a home (with good or bad intent),' cf. Old Norse heimsǿkja or sǿkja heim." – The Norwegian Academy Dictionary
Drawing from archival material, Fiksdal and Siljeholm explore Kunstnernes Hus both as a structural and social framework—built by and for artists—and what it implies in terms of inclusion and exclusion, alienation and marginalization. How have these dynamics operated in the institution as a workplace, as an exhibition venue, and as a participant in the public discourse on art and cultural policy in Norway over the past century?
At the center of the installation is a monumental bed, where visitors are invited to lie down and let the house’s dark matter seep through. The bed and the act of sleeping give rise to dreams and fantasies, but also nightmares and delusions. Within the installation, one can listen to a soundscape where fragments and figures from the house’s archive are brought to life—artists, critics, directors, and funding authorities. Their voices are accompanied by organ music, a children's choir, and field recordings from the house itself. At various times during the exhibition period, three dancers will inhabit the installation—as the haunted.
Haunted House also points to the artist's role, both political and personal, and the value of creating a space where one feels at home. The work presents Kunstnernes Hus as both canny and uncanny at the same time.
Credit and partners
About the artists
Haunted House is supported by the Norwegian Arts Council, Kunstnernes Hus, the Norwegian Film School and the University of Inland Norway.
