TLmag Norwegian Craft

An Artistic Category Open to Experimentation

‘Rugged’ and ‘weathered’ is how Norway’s natural anthem characterises the country. the climate is harsh, and before oil made the inhabitants rich, their lifestyle was marked by austerity. Norway has a small upper class and no aristocracy. The market for luxury crafts has therefore been correspondingly small; instead, there is a long and living folk art tradition that still inspires many of today’s artists. Perhaps the lack of onerous traditions and strong institutions can help explain the strong position craft art enjoys in Norway Today. – Jorunn Veiteberg