VJ reconstructions for various tracks by Sprutbass, Rustie and Dorian Concept performed at DO IT! gigs at The Villa/Øyanatt (Oslo) 13 August 2010 and Revolver (Oslo) 16 December 2010.

Selected frames from live animations can be found on Flickr. (More to come). This is an exploration of the use of sound response and live motion generation to make still images.

My new project portfolio is at halvorbodin.com running on the Cargo platform and network. This is now my main site and deconstructure.com will continue to be my personal blog and evolve into something more over time. My archive of graphic design and art projects will be presented at halvorbodin.com and updated frequently.

Cargo is a web publishing (CMS) and community-building platform currently in development. It powers communities in creative fields including Education, Design, Research, and Conceptual Art. For examples, visit the Featured Websites page. Cargo evolved out of the system that runs the SpaceCollective community. The devlopers found it remarkably successful and efficient in creating visual content on the web, placing a strong emphasis on design, layout, image quality and typography. Their goal is to dramatically increase the accessibility and exposure of creative individuals on the Internet, while aspiring to build a networked context that will contribute to the culture as a whole.

TASCHEN, OLIVER PAYNE & NICK RELPH
The book called Taschen was made for Oliver Payne & Nick Relph exhibitions at The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Oslo (opened 24 January 2004) and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (opened 18 January 2004). Texts by Andrea Kroksnes, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Oliver Payne & Nick Relph, Sune Nordgren and Susanne Pagé. Hardcover, 126 pages, color, format: 21 x 26 cm, ISBN 3-936646-50-3. Designed by Halvor Bodin & the artists during a week in Oslo, 2004. Buy the book online at Kerber Verlag. View a complete presentation of the book here.

The Warmoestraat has been flooding the Netherlands with the latest in experimental, innovative art since October 1979. Since it was founded, W139 has been open non-stop for three decades. Over the last 30 years, a different designer/group each year has helped to shape the face of W139 by making the invitations/material for one year each. These designers have been asked to contribute to the anniversary by making a poster that will be hung in bus and tram shelters throughout Amsterdam from 28 October to 10 November. All posters are exhibited in W139 from 16 October to 22 November. There will be an opening at W139 30 October. Visit the project at W139.

The designers are: Jozee Brouwer, Bart de Baets, Leendert Masselink, Thomas Buxo, Joris Lindhout, Gijs Frieling, Experimental Jetset, The living eye, Coen Mulder, Mannschaft, Simon wald Lasowski, Felix Weigand, Esther Krop, Job Wouters, Roma Publications, Julia Born, Hansje van Halem, De Design Politie, Kasper Andreasen, Daria Holme, Will Holder, Halvor Bodin, Ad de Jong, Floor Koomen, Erwin Slegers.

W139: Space for continuous production and presentation of Contemporary Art since 1979. Dedicated to risk and experiment. Eight to ten exhibitions a year, openings fridaynight 9 pm. An artist is someone who wants to see. Not the invisible is what an artist is looking for or imagines, but the visible itself is the greatest question of it all. Shape, space and material are somewhat to comprehence, but light and colours are out of reach. The one who seeks the phenomena of art, will find an emptyness in which the gab of art theory echoes. Art is the new nature: a tree is beautiful adjacent to a river, with a cow lying beneath it and the shadow of the clouds passing by. The Whole speaks, the parts mumble and stutter. Shaping a new, living unity between works of art, space and public becomes the mission of W139 since its establishment.

DON’T TRUST ANYONE UNDER 30 | WWW.W139.NL
ALEXITHYMIA II + III | PWOG DECONSTRUCTURE GRIDNIK RMX | 2009
GRAPHITE DRAWINGS | GRAPHIC DESIGN | HALVORBODIN.COM
VECTORIZATION USING SCRIPTOGRAPHER [OBJECT RASTER BY JÜRG LEHNI]

The pictures are details of the poster (118 cm x 175 cm) by Halvor Bodin. Bodin designed the printed material for W139 for the year 2005. (will be updated in the portfolio soon). More documentation later…

Reopening 5–13 September: Group exhibition at Galerie Susan Nielsen, Paris, France (6 June to 18 July 2009). The participating artists are: Rune Olsen, LELLO//ARNELL, Elise Storsveen, Halvor Bodin, Sofie Berntsen, Cecilia Jimenez and Christian Messel. See a previous post for details.

Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Richard A. and Rissa W. Grossman Gallery at Williams Visual Arts Building. From September 1–October 9, 2009.

Darkness Descends delves into the uniquely Norwegian style of neo-romanticism in contemporary art. The exhibition brings together a multi-disciplinary group of artists to explore the fascination with darkness that is inspired by mythology and a close relationship to nature. Curated by Christina Vassallo, produced by Cottelston Advisors, N.Y. More information on opening hours etc. at Lafayette College.
For more information including curator’s essay visit www.randomnumber.nu

Group exhibition at Galerie Susan Nielsen, Paris, France 6 June to 18 July 2009. + Reopening 5–13 September.
The participating artists are: Rune Olsen, LELLO//ARNELL, Elise Storsveen, Halvor Bodin, Sofie Berntsen, Cecilia Jimenez and Christian Messel.

With Rock-Paper-Scissors – New Art from Norway galerie susan nielsen proudly introduces the work of eight artists whose artistic practices have all to some degree been informed, challenged, or shaped by their connection to Norway. The artist’s nationalities and residences are not univocally Norwegian, yet their work is part of what shapes a Norwegian contemporary art scene today. The exhibition focuses on two points: one being the use of paper as a means of shaping and redefining an outlook, the other being an attention to science or scientific exploration, whether it be a pseudo-scientific investigation into the mechanics of machinery, a zoological or sociological take on gender stereotypes and sexual preferences, or a systematic tracing of lines resulting in constructions of geometrical figures.

With Rock-Paper-Scissors – New Art from Norway, galerie susan nielsen seeks to provide a glimpse of an art scene that is currently booming with energy, enterprise, and talent.

Halvor Bodin (Lillehammer, Norway 1964), who lives and works in Oslo, studied political science before entering into the field of art through film production and graphic design. His artistic production includes large-scale installations and sculptural works as well as drawing, which he is showing in the present exhibition. Bodin’s drawings balance on the verge between the highly organic and an almost dry subtlety, which stems from intricate imagery and a delicately applied pencil. In some of Bodin’s drawings, his connection to Black Metal aesthetics breaks through the surface of restraint and imbues an image with a multitude of silent, grey flames that outline the jaw and barred teeth of a human figure, which then metamorphs into feather- or leaflike shapes only to melt into circular shapes resembling cell membranes. Thus, Bodin’s drawings allude to the power of creation as well as to the fragility of human existence and capture the viewer’s imagination as the shapes are nearly recognizable and yet remain elusive.

Text by Maria Gry Bregnbak, curator and art historian

The exhibition includes two new drawings by Halvor Bodin: Alexithymia II + Alexithymia III , 2009. Graphite on paper, 71 x 100 cm.

DARKNESS EXTENDS: Norwegian Music Now

On the occasion of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS: Norwegian Art Now (Chashama, 217 E42nd Street, March 5 – March 8), the Norwegian invasion continues with a weekend-long musical extension at Monkeytown (Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The uniquely Norwegian preoccupation with darkness is the common thread uniting the musicians and artists included in this showcase.

FRIDAY MARCH 6
DARKNESS EXTENDS at Monkeytown
Weekend-long extension of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS showcasing Norwegian music and sound art
Audio-visual performance by Alexander Rishaug vs. Marius Watz + Improv solo saxophonist Håkon Kornstad + DJ Are Mokkelbost
(8 and 10:30pm) $10, $10 Minimum

SATURDAY MARCH 7
DARKNESS EXTENDS at Monkeytown
Weekend-long extension of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS showcasing Norwegian music and sound art
Bass soloist Eivind Opsvik with visuals by Beathe C. Rønning + Opsvik & surprise guests + DJ/VJ set by Halvor Bodin
(8 and 10:30pm) $10, $10 Minimum

For more information on Darkness Extends and the art exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS visit www.randomnumber.nu
The event is organized by Signe Prøis and Christina Vassallo.

Documentation photos from Darkness Extends :

M*A*S*H New York presents
DARKNESS DESCENDS: Norwegian Art Now
Dates: March 5–8, 2009
Pulse Art Fair & Chashama
Opening reception: Thursday, March 5, 7pm–10pm, with performances by Rishaug vs. Watz and Kjersti Vetterstad & Monica Winther

DARKNESS DESCENDS: Norwegian Art Now delves into the uniquely Norwegian style of neo-romanticism in contemporary art. The exhibition will bring together a multi-generational group of visual, performance, sound, and video artists to explore a fascination with darkness that is inspired by mythology and a close relationship to nature. Curated by Christina Vassallo, the exhibition will take place during The Armory Show, March 5–8, 2009. DARKNESS DESCENDS is the fourth installment in a series of M*A*S*H shows produced by Cottelston Advisors in conjunction with major art fairs.

Artists: Thora Dolven Balke, Ole Martin Lund Bø, Halvor Bodin, Marianne Hurum, Anki King, Ingvild Langgård, Sverre Malling, Are Mokkelbost, Trine Lise Nedreaas, Rune Olsen, Alexander Rishaug, Elise Storsveen, Kjersti Vetterstad, Kira Wager, Marius Watz, Jana Winderen, Monica Winther and Munan Øvrelid.

The sound art program of DARKNESS DESCENDS will be presented simultaneously at PULSE New York, Pier 40 / 353 West Side Highway @ West Houston Street, NYC.

Exhibition hours:
3/5, 11 am–9 pm
3/6–3/8, 11 am–6 pm

Chashama (map)
217 East 42nd Street (bet. 2 and 3 Ave.)
New York, NY 1001
Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central Station

Christina Vassallo is an independent curator based in New York City. Michael Sellinger created Cottelston Advisors to provide art advisory and exhibition production services. Generous support for the exhibition has been provided by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General. Beverages provided by Christiania Vodka.
Halvor Bodin is exhibiting two drawings, graphite on paper 70 x 100 cm.
Follow the progression and view the final drawings on Flickr.
In addittion I will do a combined DJ/VJ set on Saturday at Monkeytown.

6/7
FRIDAY
DARKNESS EXTENDS at Monkeytown
Weekend-long extension of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS showcasing Norwegian music and sound art
Audio-visual performance by Alexander Rishaug vs. Marius Watz + Improv solo saxophonist Håkon Kornstad + DJ Are Mokkelbost
(8 and 10:30pm) $10, $10 Minimum

SATURDAY
DARKNESS EXTENDS at Monkeytown
Weekend-long extension of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS showcasing Norwegian music and sound art
Bass soloist Eivind Opsvik with visuals by Beathe C. Rønning + Opsvik & surprise guests + DJ/VJ set by Halvor Bodin
(8 and 10:30pm) $10, $10 Minimum

For more information including curator’s essay visit www.randomnumber.nu

Press: Dagbladet, James Wagner.

Documentation photos from Darkness Descends & Darkness Extends:

The 320 page book Pieces of energy. From the StatoilHydro art collection was released 15 August in Oslo. Design and Art Direction by Martin Kvamme/Halvor Bodin & Visual Design, Statoil Hydro. Editors: Jens R. Jenssen and Bjarne Våga. The book release was a panel discussion outside a Statoil gas station in Oslo moderated by Tommy Olsson. With Øivind Storm Bjerke, Power Ekroth, Ingeborg Stana and Matthew Collings.

[flickr album=72157606816142652 num=6]

The exhibition with the same name at the gallery of Stavanger Kunstforening is 16 August–21 September 2008. The exhibition showcases major works of Norwegian and Nordic contemporary art in a variety of techniques. Among the attractions are works by rising stars such as Norwegian sculptor Camilla Løw (b. 1976), winner of the StatoilHydro Art Award 2007, but also important pieces by established greats like Norwegian painters Bjørn Carlsen (b. 1945) and Olav Christopher Jenssen (b. 1954).

Address:
Stavanger Kunstforening, Madlaveien 33, Stavanger, Norway

Opening hours:
Saturday 16 August–Monday 25 August: 12.00-16.00
Tuesday 26 August-Wednesday 3 September: 12.00-22.00
Thursday 4 September-Sunday 21 September: 12.00-16.00
(Mondays and Saturdays closed)

More information at StatoilHydro.