AIR: Grete Refsum

Grete Refsum, artist and adjunkt professor at Oslo National Academy of the Arts, visited TCG Nordica for three weeks in early fall of 2009. She lived in TCG Nordica’s guest flat, and worked with her old friend-Loft artist Duan Yuhai, used his studio during stay.

Artist and Adjunct Professor Grete Refsum visited TCG Nordica September 22 – October 22, 2009. During her time in Kunming, she worked with her own art as well as held lectures at Kunming College Art Department.

Grete Refsum works with art development on visual theology. She has previously stayed in Kunming in 2006, working as TCG Nordica’s Artist in Residence for six months(link).

Sponsor: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

the poster from the lecture in Kunming University

about Grete Refsum (1953)

Biography

General
Grete Refsum is a visual artist dealing with artistic research. Artistic research is still an open term; basically it means that the artist in addition to producing artworks, reflects on her work, publishes and takes part in international scholarly discourses. The work of Refsum relates to psychology, spirituality and religion. Being Norwegian born and rised within a Western, Christian context, this is the philosophical and religious point of departure of her work. However, Refsum has since her youth, been interested in Asian world views, meditation and philosophy, Zen Buddhist in particular. More recently, also Chinese traditional thinking has become a vital insprational source in her work. Her current basic theme is meditation.
Refsum has been employed part time in Oslo National Academy of the Arts since 1996, firstly, in The National College of Arts and Design. Currently, she keeps a 70 % position as Adjunct Professor and Senior Adviser in reseach and development work. Refsum is the nationally appointed represetative of art and design in the national committee interpreting the term ‘research based education’ in the higher educations in Norway.

Artistic Work
Refsum has developed a personal technique of binding metal wire into transparent webs to suit her theme. Constructively, she is inspired by Modernist artists, craft, plant physiology and science. Conceptually, Refsum elaborates on Christian Medieval traditions of simplicity and pauperism, as well as contemporary traditions extending from arte povera. She blends old and new with a concern for ecological thinking. Refsum situates herself within female and meditative traditions in which binding together and repetition are essentials. Her work reflects environmental and ethical concerns, aiming at contributing to inter-cultural dialogues, ecological sustainability and peace.

Refsum works in series:
1986-94, Cross/Crucifix Series, exploring the main Christian symbol as form.
1994-2001, Small Altar Series, suggesting new psychologically based objects for meditation.
2001-2003, Rosaries for the Future, combining traditional meditation beads, the rosary, with the natural history, science and culture.
2003-2005, Pater Noster/Our Father, exploring the ancient ecumenical Christian prayer by presenting the text as ornamental webs and installations. This project takes an iconoclastic approach to ecclesial art, opening for inter-religious dialogues.
2006-2008, The Western Way – The Eastern Way / The Way of Christ – The Way of Dao, a project that juxtaposes Christian and Chinese philosophical concepts, inviting a dialogue between religion and non-religion.
2008-, Meditation Objects/ Challenging the Beads, ongoing.

Education
Refsum started her academic career within science in 1972, graduating in 1976, as Candidate of Nutrition, University of Oslo, and in 1977, as Candidate of Environmental Management, University College of Agriculture. Her artistic education started in 1979 at the National College of Art and Design in Oslo, graduating in 1985 with Diploma in painting/stained glass, and 1991, Hovedfag (MA), in form. As the first artist in Norway, Refsum in 2000, defended her doctorate at Oslo School of Architecture. In 2007, she became professor.

Grete Refsum
Curriculum Vita
Education, Employment, Pedagogical Work, Etc.
Utdannelse og kompetanse/Education and Competence
2007 Professor competense
2000 Dr. ing.: Genuine Christian Modern Art, Arkitekthøgskolen i Oslo.
1992 Hovedfag: Kors/krusifiks i dag, Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole.
1985 Diplom: Glassmaleri til St. Dominikus kirke, Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole.
1978 Examen Philosophicum, Universitetet i Oslo.
1977 Naturforvalter, egen studieplan, Norges landbrukshøgskole, Ås.
1976 Ernæringsfysiolog, Nordisk husholdshøgskole, Universitetet i Oslo.
1972 Examen Artium, reallinje, Asker gymnas.
Ansettelse/Employment
2007 Senior rådgiver FoU/ Senior Adviser R&D, 50 % fast/permanent, KHiO.
2006 (1.8-31.12) Førsteamanuensis, Fakultet for design, 30 %, KHiO.
2006-8 Timeansatt, Høgskolen i Akershus, Avdeling produktdesign.
2005-08 Adjunct Professor, 20 %, Avdeling Kunstfag, KHiO.
2004 (1.7.05) Førsteamanuensis, 75 %, Avdeling Kunstfag, KHiO.
2003/04 FoU-koordinator, 50 % KHiO, førsteamanuensis 50 %, Avd. Kunstfag, KHiO.
2002 Førsteamanuensis, 50/ 100/ 80 %, SHKS.
2001 Førsteamanuensis, 50 %, SHKS.
2000/1999 Stipendiat 45 %, SHKS.
1998/97/96 Stipendiat 45 %, SHKS, leder av FoU-rådet.
1995 Vitenskapelig assistent (225 t), Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole (SHKS).
Veiledning/Supervision
2007- MA, Teologisk fakultet, Universitetet i Oslo
2007- MA, Arkitekt og Designhøgskolen i Oslo (AHO).
2006 Programmet til førstelektorkompetanse, Høgskolen i Akershus, Avdeling produktdesign.
”- Stipendiatsøkere, Nasjonalt program for kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid, Fakultet for Visuell
kunst og Fakultet for design, KHiO.
2004-05 Hovedfag, Avdeling Kunstfag og Fakultet for Design, KHiO.
2003-04 Stipendiatsøkere, Nasjonalt program for kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid, alle fag, KHiO.
2002-03 Doktorgradsprogrammet Arkitekthøgskolen i Oslo.
Sensur/Censor
2007 MA Design, Høgskolen i Akershus.
” BA Keramikk, KHiO.
2006 Kultur og ledelse, Handelshøgskolen BI.
2005 Hovedfag, Institutt for form, Avdeling Kunstfag.
2004 Hovedfag, Institutt for grafikk, vår. Avdeling Kunstfag.
” Hovedfag, Institutt for metall, høst. Avdeling Kunstfag.
2002 Hovedfag, Institutt for grafikk. Avdeling Kunstfag.
Undervisning (KHiO)/Teaching
2006 Skrivekurs, 1. år BA Kunstfag, og 1. år MA Design.
2005 Høst KS 1, Kunstfaglig sakprosa, 1. år BA Kunstfag.
2004 Vår DV 101, Dokumentasjonsverktøy, 1. år Kunstfag.
2004 Høst TM 101, Grunnkurs teori og metode, 1. år Kunstfag.
Grete Refsum CV – 2 – februar 2008
2003 Høst TM 301, Grunnkurs teori og metode, hovedfag Kunstfag.

Verv/Committees
2004-05 Medlem i ledergruppen Avdeling kunstfag, KHiO.
2004-05 Medlem i FoU-utvalget, KHiO.
2003-04 Varamedlem høgskolestyret, Avdeling kunstfag, KHiO.
2001-02 Medlem og sekretær i FoU-utvalget, KHiO.
1994 Styreleder i Akershus bildende kunstneres forening.
Stipend og offentlig støtte/Scholarships and Public Support
2006 Jubileumsgudstjeneste Norske kirkeakademier 50 år, støttet av Norsk kulturråd.
2006 Artist in Residence, T C/G Nordica Kunming, Kina.
2005 InSpiritus prosjektet er støttet av Domkirken i Oslo, Norsk kulturråd, Norwegian Embassy
London, Office for Contemporary Art, British Council Norway, Arts Council England,
Utsmykningsfondet for offentlige bygg og Bildende kunstneres hjelpefond.
2004 Reisestipend, Ingrid Lindbæk Langaards stiftelse.
2002 Artist in Residence, International Studio and Curatorial Program, New York, KHiO.
1994 Debutantstøtte, Norsk Kulturråd.
1991 Stipend, Vederlagsfondet.
1986 Innkjøpsstøtte, glassmaleri i St. Dominikus kirke, Oslo, Norsk Kulturråd.
Medlemsskap/Membership
1992 Norsk billedhoggerforening
1991 Akershus bildende kunstnere/Norske billedkunstnere
1989 Unge kunstneres samfunn
Konsulentarbeid/Consultancy
2004 Konsulent for Tollef Thorsnes, fornyelse av interiør i Solvang kirke, Tønsberg.
” Høring for kirkens kulturmelding, 1.06, Kirkens hus, Oslo.
1999 Jubileum 2000, Norges kristne råd, Oslo.
1997-98 Konsulent for byggekomiteen St. Laurentius, Drammen.
Omtale/Writings on GR
Mellergård, Pekka. 2005. ”Religiofobi? Vernissage Grete Refsum”. Tidskriften NOD; Forum
för Tro Kultur och Samhälle (Örebro Missionsskola). Nr. 1:4-8.
Dunin-Woyseth, Halina. 2003. Faglig relevans vs. akademisk intersubjektivitet. Et møte med fem
forskere fra de skapende og utøvende fag. Nordisk arkitekturforskning 1:41-45.
Karlsson, Henrik. 2002. “Handslag, famntag, klapp eller kyss?” Konstnärlig forskarutbildning i
Sverige. 4 vols, SISTER skrifter. Stockholm.
Hadland, Anne Bente op. 2002. ”Kunstner og misjonær”. Broen katolsk kirkeblad. Nr. 2:6-7.
Lystrup, Marianne. 2001. ”Tenk om”. Vårt land, 28.04: 18-19.
Hønningstad, Therese Magnus. 2001. ”Doktorgrad med egen kunst”. Asker og Bærums
Budstikke, 25.04:10.
Kolberg, Ane. 1994. ”God dag?” Morgenbladet 25.-28.03:27.

2009Christmas Fair

Kick off the holiday season with Christmas fun for the whole family!
The Fair will be held Friday, December 4, 5-9 pm and Saturday, December 5, 10 am to 6 pm
* Are you interested in selling your handmade crafts, art or special holiday food items?
* Would you like to be part of the entertainment?
* Do you want to provide children’s activities?
Sign up to be part of the fun by November 16th
In English, please contact Shelley Redmon at redmonfamily@gmail.com
In Chinese, please contact Sky Yang at skyyang@tcgnordica.com
The fair is organized by TCG Nordica.

Movie night-Hunger

Date: Friday the 30. October
Time: 6.30 – 9.30 pm at Nordica
Movie: Hunger (2008) by Steve McQueen
Free admission!
Follows the life shortly before and during the 1981 IRA-hunger strike. With intensely aesthetic pictures this movie depicts the final act of desperation, when the human body is the last and ultimate mean of protest

My Market–The 4th Kunming Loft Creative Fair

Welcome to “My Market – The 4th Kunming Loft Creative Fair”!!!
Time: 11:30am-22pm, Oct 31st and Nov 1st, 2009
Address: TCG Nordica, Xiba Road No.101, Kunming
Tel: 0871-4114692
Host by: Nine and Three-Quarters Studio, TCG Nordica
Curator: Nine and Three-Quarters Studio
Poster design: Gwen
Bazaar products to sell:
Original designs or handicrafts use old things and materials to make something new and functional! E.g. jewelry, toys, illustrations, scarf, shoes, handmade books/bag, things for wear, original music, clock, special food…..! Different kind of interesting/creative ideas! Performance art and live music!

2009 Dance Club

My name is Mimi and I will soon start the dance club at Nordica again. I will teach many different dance styles including hip hop, contemporary and jazz. Welcome to join the rehearsals every Wednesday between 6 pm and 7pm 20RMB per time. Come dressed in clothes suitable for dancing (not jeans!) and be ready to have a lot a fun! I look forward to dance with you!
We will soon also start a dance team that will perform a lot, so if you take dance seriously and if you enjoy being on stage you can contact me and I will give you more information. My email is: mirjammornerud@hotmail.com English or Call Sky 13888506943

An evening of many Englishes with music

D a t e: Oct 24th 8pm, 2009
Address: TCG Nordica (The Loft)
Admission: 20RMB
An evening of many Englishes with music
The evening of Shakespeare is made up of a number of his famous speeches (including To be or not to be) and four shortened plays (Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and King Lear).
The plays have been reinterpreted in many English Modern, Shakespearean, Australian and Middle – each play lasting some five minutes. The speeches are as we imagine Shakespeare’s actors might have performed them.
The words are complemented by the music modern, period, composed and improvised.
A synopsis in Chinese will be available so a non-English speaker has some idea of what is happening. However, we hope that even if the language is unfamiliar, the audience will still be entertained by the energy, emotion and humor of the performance. (Incidentally, many native-English speakers do not understand Shakespeare perfectly and still enjoy the plays.)
The management of Nordica, the actor and the musicians welcome you all to our show and hope that you will, with Chorus, forgive our imperfections.
Enjoy!

2009 Flute concert

Date: Oct 22nd 8pm, 2009
Add: TCG Nodica
Free Admission!
Michael Neumann.
flute player from Sweden (born in Germany)
Studied in Stockholm with the leading orchestra players and soloist. Kaufeldt, MÃ¥relius, Christiansson and others. After his exam as flute teacher he continued studying the flute with Gerard Schaub (principal in Goteborg Philharmonic orchestra) and William Bennett Royal Acadmy of Music in London. masterclass with many famous flutist. He also studied conducting with Claes Merithz Pettersson for 4 years.
Michael works part tima as a teacher at the municpal music school in Nyköping and also performs all over the country with different musicians. He also works as a band leader and oonductor.

Volunteer Party

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Date: 17th of Oct to Nov of 17th, 2009.
Address: TCG Nordica
TCG Nordica’s performance stage presents high quality unique performances in music, dance, drama, poetry and film. Our regular stage activities promote cross cultural innovation, and encourage good values. Besides weekly performances highlighting the best of young artists and providing a flavour of different cultures, TCG Nordica also organises international art festivals such as contemporary jazz music night and poetry festivals. We welcome volunteer interested in creating new work exploring the fusion of various cultures and art disciplines. So if you are interested you are welcome to join our team.
You are welcome to join!