Charlotte Gainsbourg raves about Edvard Munch's use of ugly colours, Patti Smith discovers how his mind works, and a bouquet of rising Norwegian stars enact the atmosphere of his paintings in the artsy film Between the clock and the bed.
Edvard Munch
The Norwegian painter and printmaker Edvard Munch (1863–1944) was one of Modernism’s most significant artists.
His intensely evocative treatment of psychological themes built upon some of the main principles of late 19th-century Symbolism and greatly influenced German Expressionism in the early 20th century.
His best-known work The Scream, painted in 1893, is one of the world’s most iconic paintings.
Øya music festival
One of Norway’s largest music festivals with a lineup that always includes big international names, promising newcomers, and everything in between. The festival takes place in Oslo in the beginning of August every year.
“The choice of colours is incredible because they’re quite ugly. But the whole thing is …”
“It works”, The guide Nikita Mathias responds to French musician and actor Charlotte Gainsbourg as they stand in front of the painting Weeping Nude at the Munch Museum in Oslo. And indeed, it does – Edvard Munch stands out as one of the greatest artists of all time.
“I’ve been looking at Munch paintings for maybe 60 years. Since I was very young.”
– Patti Smith
The film Between the clock and the bed explores parallels between current musicians and the life and work of the Norwegian painter and printmaker Edvard Munch. In collaboration with ten artists who have all performed at the Øya music festival in Oslo, the film examines the universal ideas and themes in Munch’s art and how they manifest in the minds of the musicians of today.
“You can’t not relate to Munch if you work aesthetically in Oslo. He’s weight. Mass.”
– Bendik Giske
From an early age, Munch uncompromisingly dedicated his life to making art, and art became the way for him to process his many hardships: The death of his mother and sister, paternal issues, poverty, illness, mental instability and depression, failed love, and loneliness. “I do not believe in art which is not the compulsive result of Man’s urge to open his heart”, he once said.
Loneliness, love, sexuality, grief, and death are thus central topics in Munch’s art. Timeless subjects as relevant today as when Munch died nearly 75 years ago, as we can see when the musicians Patti Smith and Charlotte Gainsbourg talk about Munch in connection with their own lives and work. “Do you have a relation to Munch”, the guide Mathias asks Patti Smith at one point. “Yes, of course”, she answers.
Co-starring alongside Smith and Gainsbourg is a selection of musicians ranging from Atlanta hip-hopper 6LACK to the Norwegian artists Myra, Emir, Bendik Giske, Cezinando, Gundelach, Carmen Villain, and Lars Vaular.
The essence of Edvard Munch
Read about the artist and his art, and find out where to see it.
Edvard Munch
Learn more about Edvard Munch
The Norwegian painter and printmaker Edvard Munch (1863–1944) was one of Modernism’s most significant artists. His intensely evocative treatment of psychological themes built upon some of the main principles of late 19th-century Symbolism and greatly influenced German Expressionism in the early 20th century. The Scream from 1893 is one of the world’s most iconic paintings.
Experience Norway through its culture
Norway’s art and culture range from Viking culture and wooden stave churches via the paintings of Edvard Munch and writings of Henrik Ibsen to modern design and cutting-edge architecture.
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