TRONDHEIM.- The Lorck Schive Kunstpris, Norway’s national and largest art prize, aims to enable leading Norwegian artists to further their practice, and gain recognition on an international level through the biennial cycle. Trondheim kunstmuseum, which houses a national collection of art from late 19th century to present day, is home to the prize.

Each of the four artists has been nominated on the basis of individual, strong artistic oeuvres.

Knut Henrik Henriksen works with sculptures that alternate between promising models, and architectural frustrations. With references to modernist architecture, Henriksen exposes the distance between utopian ideals and pragmatic solutions.

Mattias Härenstam connects morbid humour with the paradoxical powerlessness of desire and longing. For the Lorck Schive Kunstpris, Härenstam plans a large-scale installation, which will encircle and trap the viewer.

Lars Laumann assembles found material with his own subjective narratives. His installations and films break down the boundaries between documentary and fiction, subtly distorting our perception of what is factual.

Vibeke Tandberg’s practice uses photography, painting and film to deconstruct and reconstruct narrative, emphasising the subject as an unstable point of view.

Trondheim kunstmuseum’s 150-year-old collection offers insight into many Norwegian art histories, and also highlights many themes of artistic practice, including national identity, light and domestic life. Instrumental in introducing international developments in art since its inception in the mid-nineteenth century, Trondheim kunstmuseum has long been recognized for the connections and relevant discourse it creates through its programme.

Trondheim has historically invested in the artists living in the city, resulting in artist-led gallery spaces and an active scene of practicing artists; the Lorck Schive Kunstpris and its relationship with Trondheim kunstmuseum provides a significant support to leading Norwegian practitioners. Born out of a unique, self-funding legacy, the prize is granted jointly by the Christian Lorck Schive Spouse Trust and Trondheim kunstmuseum, financed through revenue generated from land leases, making it completely autonomous.

The artists have been given 150,000 NOK each towards the production of a new artwork that will be exhibited at the Trondheim kunstmuseum. An international jury will judge the works and award the prize sum of 500,000 NOK to their chosen artist at a ceremony in November. The 2017 jury comprises of Heidi Ballet, an independent curator currently working on the 2017 edition of Lofoten International Art Festival; Per Formo, an artist represented in several major collections including the National Museum, the Stavanger Art Museum and the Norwegian Cultural Council; and Maria Lind, curator, writer and educator based in Stockholm and director of Tensta konsthall.

The exhibition of shortlisted artists will be on display at the Trondheim kunstmuseum from 1st October 2017, and the winner will be revealed on 18th November 2017.

Johan Börjesson, director of the Trondhein kunstmuseum says, “This year’s nominees, while very different in their individual practices, are united by a searching into the rules and forms of our inner and outer worlds, whether it be architecture, memory or art itself. The third edition of the Lorck Schive Kunstpris again shows the prize’s strength in recognizing the diversity and high quality of art being made in Norway today.”