The southern Norwegian coastal town of Kristiansand is about to open a gallery in a converted grain silo.
Kunstsilo Nordica, designed by Barcelona firms Mestres Wåge Arquitectes, Mendoza Partida and BAX Studio, will present the world’s largest collection of Scandinavian art to the public on 11 May.
The 1935 silo has become a 3,300-sq-m museum on three floors.
It occupies a spectacular site on the Odderøya peninsula, which adds natural drama to the building.
It will exhibit a selection of works from the Tangen Collection, the Southern Norway Art Collection, and the Christianssands Picture Gallery.
(Øystein Thorvaldse)
The first is a collection of 5,500 pieces built up by London-based hedge-fund manager Nicolai Tangen, who donated his collection to his home town in 2015.
The second comprises 1,000 contemporary artworks and the third dates from 1902, and is Kristiansand’s original art collection.
The original silo is itself a notable work of Norwegian artistry. It was designed by Arne Korsmo and Sverre Aasland, who did much to popularise the international style in Scandinavia.
The inaugural exhibition will be Passions of the North. This will include 700 works in 25 rooms, each decorated for individual moods.
The Kunstsilo will also be a venue for lectures, concerts, dining and workshops.
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