We welcome this exhibition with enthusiasm. As far as we know, this is the first time that we have seen such an exhibition in Norway, and we are looking forward to deepening and clarifying our picture of modern American intellectual life. Admittedly, the exhibition does not include many of the Commonwealth's numerous artists, but we believe that the twelve that have been selected will together give a representative and correct idea of some of the significant American art movements. The American organizer of the exhibition, the vibrant and always alert Museum of Modern Art, vouches for that. Incidentally, let's disregard the exhibition's representative nature. First of all, let's consider the sculptures and paintings as works of art. These artists probably have a community in and with the environment they live in, but above all, they are concerned with general human problems. We see that, among other things of their own statements. Precisely for this reason, we also know that they can give us inspiring new impulses. And that's what we're most looking forward to. We have many people to thank for their support of this exhibition. Let's first mention all those who, led by HRH Crown Prince Olav, have stood as the exhibition's patrons. In particular, we would like to thank the Commonwealth Ambassador to Norway, L. Corrin Strong and Mrs. Strong, who took part in the preparations with a warm personal interest in art, marine engineer J. Holger Graffman, Stockholm, who led the first negotiations about the exhibition arrangement and finally the American organizers , the representatives of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.