Updates from Derren Brown and the Enigma Crew

The Norwegian artist, Morten Viskum lives and works in Vestfossen in Norway. In 1993 he interrupted his veterinary studies after six years when he was accepted to The Academy of Fine Art in Oslo.  In 1995 he headlined the news for the first time when he performed his “rat/olive” project. During two days he exchanged bottled olives with rat babies and placed them back on the shelves in 20 different supermarkets in five major cities.

Soon speculations of sabotage were made, and the story was first page news for several days. The young artist was threatened with a lawsuit by the international industrial giant S&W, who produced and sold the bottled olives. This art stunt which soon was given the name the “rat/olive”-project, firmly placed Morten Viskum on the contemporary art scene. And since then he has been considered to be one of the most provocative contemporary artist in Norway.

Viskum was front page news again in Norwegian newspapers when he used a human hand that was removed from a corps, as a paintbrush in works called “The hand that never stopped painting”. The means is often strong and often satisfies the medias definition of sensation. But the dramatic art of Viskum also reveals a deeper meaning, it is often found on the borders between life and death, and often arise many ethical questions. It is difficult for the beholder to maintain passive and not engaged when meeting Morten Viskum’s art. ”The hand that never stopped painting” is the title on the first paintings Morten Viskum painted with the dead hand.

Galleria Perela

Volta 5

Thanks Marit