Nils-Thomas Økland

The Artist
Nils-Thomas Økland is a Norwegian contemporary artist from Sandnes who creates sculptures and installations. Nils-Thomas has an art education from England and has held numerous exhibitions both in Norway and abroad. Although there are no people in his art, it often deals with how we humans feel and how we are. His works often resemble familiar objects and things from everyday life, yet they appear somewhat strange and artificial. In this way, Nils-Thomas transforms practical everyday objects into something for us to reflect upon.

About the art
In Nils-Thomas's room, a tension arises between the genuine and the somewhat strange or artificial. How does this affect the way we perceive the objects? The art installation takes the form of an 18th-century general store. In this way, the artwork addresses an emerging consumer culture in society, at a time when the world was opening up and new goods from abroad were reaching the city. The items for sale in a shop have always mirrored our own desires and yearnings. In this way, the shop shelves also reflect the values of society. What did people desire in the 18th century? And what does it tell us about them? Are there any parallels to what we desire today – and who we are?

And finally: The floorboards have strange formations, like wounds or scars. The pattern is taken from the dreadful rash that afflicted many when the mysterious radesyke plagued the city in the 18th century.