The exhibition Retellings presents a selection of Inger Johanne Rasmussen’s rich body of work, with several pieces created specifically for this occasion. It offers the audience a rare opportunity to view brand-new works alongside earlier creations.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 31 May at 14:00, introduced by Eva Wathne, former director of Hå Gamle Prestegard.

Textiles as bearers of memories and stories
Rasmussen’s work is complex and multifaceted. It references both art historical and cultural epochs, drawing inspiration from craft traditions and folk art. Her textiles may evoke memories of home, family and safety – but also life’s darker sides, such as illness, grief and war.

Through her art, she invites viewers to recognise their own memories and emotions in the fabrics and patterns. The beauty in her work also holds vulnerability.

A life in the service of textile art
Born in Kristiansand, Rasmussen studied at the National College of Art and Design in Bergen and Konstfack in Stockholm. She has become a significant figure in Norwegian textile art.

She has worked as a university lecturer, authored several academic books, received numerous grants, and held extensive solo exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Her work is represented in 27 public museums and she has completed 54 public art commissions.

Next stop: Kunstsilo in Kristiansand
After being shown in Stavanger from 31 May to 10 August, the exhibition will travel to Kunstsilo in Kristiansand in autumn 2025 – returning to the artist’s hometown.