Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
In 2001, the museum moved to the historic Karljohansvern in Horten. Dating back to the 1860s, the building was previously used to store grain for the Royal Norwegian Navy. It was adapted for museum purposes in 2001 by architect Sverre Fehn, an internationally renowned architect who received the very prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1997. “The building is in itself worth a visit. It is historic and truly beautiful,” says Roberg. The exhibitions Preus Museum is famous for its extensive collection of photographs, literature and technical equipment. When the exhibition was bought by the Norwegian government, these collections became the foundation of the entire museum and the basis of its exhibitions. Today, Preus Museum has had great success with its permanent exhibition, called A history of photography. As the name suggests, the exhibition takes you on a journey through the history of photography: from the very first experiments of photography to the massive industry it is today, from black and white to colour, from analogue to digital, and from photos of memories to photos of art. Additionally, the museum has two galleries, featuring one or two temporary exhibitions. These change three times a year. The current exhibition is The history of space photography and will be open until 14 September. Revealing the fantastic variety of outer-space photography from the early 1800s until today, the exhibition is a prime example of the importance of photography, featuring the first photos of the earth from space, our solar system, the stars, the Milky Way and the universe far beyond our solar system. “Curated by Jay Belloli for the California/International Arts Foundation in Los Angeles, this exhibition reminds us of the fact that we are just a small part of an enormous universe with a number of unanswered questions,” says Roberg. “At the same time, it examines and questions the way we treat our planet today.” On 28 September, two new exhibitions will take over the galleries. The new exhibitions are by Norwegian artists Toril Jo-
ABOVE LEFT: The museum is perfect for children and families. RIGHT: The popular Photography Day is hosted every August, celebrating all aspects of photography.
hannesen and Vilde Salhus Røed, both famous for exploring new ways of expressing themselves artistically. Preus Museum also has its own photographic conservation department, offering courses and workshops to all visitors on topics such as restoration techniques and preservation of photographs. Perfect for children A very important aspect of the museum’s vision is to educate its visitors within the field of photography. The library consists of around 30,000 volumes, covering photography from the early 1500s until today. Additionally, the museum offers a range of workshops for schools, making the museum a popular place to visit for people of all ages. With support from DNB Savings Bank Foundation and Arts Council Norway, the museum now hosts both one-off workshops and longer courses, such as a digital photography workshop, an iPod workshop, a pinhole photography workshop, and an analogue darkroom course.
On top of the workshops, the museum has its own section for children, where they can explore shadow theatre, optical lenses and camera obscura. On the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, held on the last Sunday in April every year, Preus Museum arranges a photography day for children where they get invited into the darkroom to participate in all kinds of photography fun. Photography Day Another popular event is Photography Day, hosted every August. This year, the event will be held on 24 August, inviting all photo enthusiasts to celebrate photography and its 175-year anniversary. Working with various photography organisations, the museum will host workshops, exhibitions, lectures and a wide range of activities suitable for both children and adults. For more information, please visit: www.preusmuseum.no
Consisting of around 30,000 volumes, the library chronicles the history of photography from the early 1500s until today.
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 85