Kåre Tveter - Painter of the Light

Svalbard’s dramatic landscape and intense light changes were an endless source of inspiration for Norwegian artist Kåre Tveter. His work conveys Svalbard’s beauty as well as its vulnerability. He reminds us of our duty to protect the fragile Svalbard nature – a message that is now more relevant than ever.

The Norwegian painter and watercolourist Kåre Tveter (1922-2012) is known for his unique ability to capture the essence of the Arctic nature. The renowned artist, who is represented in most public galleries in Norway, found his deepest inspiration in Svalbard. He conveys the Svalbard landscape and light in a way that few other artists have managed. Using subtle and soft tones and a minimalist approach, he captures Svalbard’s depth and sensitivity.

After studying at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts, Tveter came to Longyearbyen for the first time in 1984. In many ways, this visit was a revelation and a turning point in his artistic career. It resulted in a lifelong fascination of Svalbard’s distinctive character. Tveter was inspired by the changing seasons – from the pastel-coloured polar winter to the golden summer. However, the contrasts in the light provided him with the greatest inspiration. Tveter is often referred to as a poet in visual arts and was known as the “painter of the light”. Using countless shades and silhouettes, he had a remarkable way of capturing the Svalbard nature in its purest form.

Interestingly, Tveter never painted, photographed or sketched while he was in Svalbard. Instead, he returned to his studio on the Norwegian mainland with impressions that he recreated on canvas based entirely on his memory.

The Svalbard nature is raw and wild but also vulnerable

Tveter’s love for Svalbard is easy to see in many of his works, ranging from realistic depictions to more abstract, poetic watercolours where you can almost feel the cold and hear the silence. The Svalbard nature is raw and wild, but also fragile and vulnerable. It must be protected and treated with extreme care. Kåre Tveter’s works provide repeated reminders of this.

Such reminders are perhaps more important now than ever. His art is visually appealing as well as being engaging and encouraging reflection. In the Arctic, one can experience climate change with global warming acting as a gloomy backdrop. We need to be reminded of our responsibility to protect nature for the next generations, including through art.

The Nordover art centre is home to the Kåre Tveter collection.

The world’s northernmost art centre, Nordover, opened in Longyearbyen in November 2022 to mark 100 years since the birth of Kåre Tveter. Through a collaboration with Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Nordover is the proud home of a large collection of Tveter’s works and plays a significant role in safeguarding and showcasing his artistic legacy.

Nordover, combined with the Kåre Tveter Collection Foundation, contributes to keeping Tveter’s art alive, relevant and accessible to locals and visitors alike.

The audience is invited to understand the significance of Tveter art in today’s context, particularly considering climate change and nature conservation. The collection is also an important source of artistic inspiration for younger artists, providing a reference point and an opportunity to explore how art can be used to convey an important message.

Nordover, which also houses a cinema and café, is co-located with the youth club. It has quickly become an arena for learning, inspiration and exchange of views.

Tveter donated his collection to the Longyearbyen community in 1995 to promote art and culture in the small town at 78° North. He wished to give the art collection a permanent place in the archipelago that meant so much to him and make it available to audiences from all over the world.

For the Longyearbyen community, the Kåre Tveter Collection is far more than an art collection. It represents cultural heritage and is a tribute to the Svalbard nature, including for future generations.