Kåre Tveter: An artist's gaze on Svalbard

About

The permanent exhibition of the well-known Svalbard motifs by Kåre Tveter marks 100 years since his birth in 1922.

Kåre Tveter was one of the most recognised Norwegian artists when he first visited Svalbard in 1984. It was a revelation for him to encounter the unique landscape and the special light conditions of Svalbard.

His depictions of Svalbard occupy a distinctive place in Norwegian art history. We are not aware of any studies or sketches painted on Svalbard. All the paintings were created from memory, but no artist has succeeded in capturing the character of the landscape to a greater extent than Tveter. He has a particularly recognisable style in his use of light and contrasts to create space and form. Many would argue that no one else has managed to capture the rawness of Svalbard's nature and the distinctiveness of the seasons on canvas in the way he has.

Tveter ventured far into abstraction with his art, yet never let go of the motif. This elevates his work beyond a narrow understanding of it as a typical expression of abstract painting in the second half of the 20th century, giving it a timeless quality.

Tveter's paintings remain relevant due to the changes taking place in the climatic conditions of the northern regions. His ability to immerse himself in nature and his precise observation of terrain and light conditions are an inspiration for younger artists to continue exploring changes in nature as the basis for contemporary art. In this exhibition, you gain insight into a changing Svalbard through the seasons, Svalbard's untouched landscape, and the innermost thoughts of one of Norway's most famous landscape painters.

The Kåre Tveter Foundation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, was established in 1994.

At Nordover, you can purchase signed bibliophiles and prints by Kåre Tveter.