"Håkon Gullvåg is an accomplished artist and advocates imposing a cultural boycott on Israel. He has also presented a painting to the Israeli embassy in Oslo, titled "Invasion"."
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"Now how can an exhibition like Gullvåg’s possibly be described as “bold”? And what sort of debate can it possibly foster? And how can the paitings be "politically explosive" ? At times one can’t help but wonder if we Norwegians aren’t just a little bit preoccupied with portraying Israel as a villain. It just doesn’t stop."
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"Requiem for the children of Gaza" (9 metres wide).
Source: article in Norway, Israel and the Jews blog (March 20)
"... Norwegian painter Håkon Gullvåg is in the news for focusing on Israel in his exhibition next weekend. The "Requiem for the children of Gaza" is 9 metres wide. In "The flag" below, the flag of Israel is splattered with blood is placed upon a bed of flowers and human skulls.
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"The flag"
Below the artist comments in Adresseavisa, a small Norwegian daily which primarily covers the Trondheim region:
"- I have worked with large things before too, but this became larger than usual. I don’t quite know why.
- The paintings are politically explosive?
- Yes, this exhibition is more political than the ones we have had before. It is the result of my committment the last years which have reflected directly upon my art. Earlier I have been part of support actions fundraising, but now my committment is being directly reflected in my paintings, says Gullvåg."
Addresseavisa also reports that art professor Øivind Storm Bjerke believs Gullvåg is "asking for trouble" and makes several comparisons to Norwegian artist Kjartan Slettemark’s Vietnam picture, which was assulted by an axe-wielding citizen. Also in Adresseavisa, Mayor of Trondheim Rita Ottervik expresses her support for Gullvåg. Here is an extract from Adresseavisa (March 20):
"- I think most people have taken the side of the Palestinian population of Gaza and do not defend Israel’s behavior, says Mayor Rita Ottervik who is looking forward to open Gullvåg’s exhibition.
- It is no issue for me to open up for debate, says Rita Ottervik.
- Do you agree with the content of Gullvåg’s paitings?
- I have not seen the exhibition. I open many exhibitions without neccessarily being in agreement with every detail. It is great that Gullvåg committs himself with a political message. I think it is spectacular, and it facilitates societal debate, says Ottervik."
- It is no issue for me to open up for debate, says Rita Ottervik.
- Do you agree with the content of Gullvåg’s paitings?
- I have not seen the exhibition. I open many exhibitions without neccessarily being in agreement with every detail. It is great that Gullvåg committs himself with a political message. I think it is spectacular, and it facilitates societal debate, says Ottervik."
Now how can an exhibition like Gullvåg’s possibly be described as "bold" ? And what sort of debate can it possibly foster? And how can the paitings be "politically explosive" ? At times one can’t help but wonder if we Norwegians aren’t just a little bit preoccupied with portraying Israel as a villain. It just doesn’t stop.
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Another art exhibition which has received far less attention than Gullvåg’s, is "It’s not forbidden to think" by Ahmed Mashhouri, who in a series of prints exhibited some of the most controversial parts of the Koran. After only a few hours the exhibition was attacked, partly demolished and subsequently taken down and sent to another town. Read more on Islam in Europe or if you read Norwegian, to the source - Varden.
Which artist do you think is the most "explosive" of the two?"
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PM thanks painter for Middle East effort
PM thanks painter for Middle East effort
Source: article in Norway, Israel and the Jews blog (March 22)
"On Saturday the mayor of Trondheim applauded painter Håkon Gullvåg for the "brave" political commitment of his next exhibition, where he displays a painting of a blood-splattered Israeli flag and a 9 metres wide canvas titled "Requiem for the children of Gaza". The film clip here is from the annual meeting of Trondheim Arbeiderparti on February 8th 2009. We see the leader for Trondheim Arbeiderparti Rune Olsø, leader of the Palestine-committee Wenche Aarethun and painter Håkon Gullvåg present Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg with a painting by Gullvåg. The Norwegian Prime Minister then thanks Gullvåg for the painting itself as well as for "painting pictures which place this (the plight of the Palestinians) on the agenda", and says that the worst thing that can happen to the Palestinians is to be forgotten.
Håkon Gullvåg is an accomplished artist and advocates imposing a cultural boycott on Israel. He has also presented a painting to the Israeli embassy in Oslo, titled "Invasion". It is at this moment uncertain whether the Mayor of Trondheim considers also this to be a "bold" move on Gullvåg’s part."
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- The Norwegian Organization With Israel for Peace
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- For Norwegian F.M. Europe much too lenient with Israel
- Norway Funding PA Hate Media
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- Jostein Gaarder - a better friend to the Jewish people than Israel
- Jew-hatred in contemporary Norwegian caricatures
- The Norwegian Organization With Israel for Peace
1 comment:
Another Norwegian Nazi Quisling
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