Born in Skien, Åsne Margrete grew up in the countryside of Ulefoss. Here, she developed a passion for painting at a young age, often finding solace in art during her frequent absences from school due to childhood asthma and eczema. Starting with watercolours, she captured the beauty inside her home and out in the picturesque landscapes surrounding Holla farm and the remnants of the ancient Holla church. Early in her artistic journey, she was drawn to motifs such as the contrasting yellows of cultivated lands against the blues of the mountains and sky.
Her travels to France, Egypt and Crete proved pivotal, providing abundant inspiration. Several projects emerged from the experiences and insights gained during these journeys.
As of October 2023, Åsne Margrete was residing both in Crete, Greece and Jylland, Denmark for an extended period, seeking fresh inspiration and creating new artwork. This ended in the solo exhibition “Another Light”, shown in her new opend ad-hoc gallery and studio in Porsgrunn, Norway in june 2024.
Her work during the stay was inspired by the words of the American poet, Robert Frost:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
«I am interested in the human reactions to nature’s processes and to explore and express the inner nature as well. This meeting gives meaning in a dualistic and polarized world. My art is a brigde between inner and outer where I hope to find a non-dualistic peace. Kindness, music and beauty in general inspires me and of course nature itself.”
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
Jeg har en dyp fascinasjon for hvordan alt henger sammen, fra celler og «systemer», nervetråder og organer inni kroppen til det som finnes i naturen; inni skogen og i havet i særdeleshet. Jeg opplever alt som forbundet, eller i alle fall er det en tilstand jeg søker, en non-dualisme. Til tider også en magisk realisme. Friheten det ligger i å skape verden i mitt bilde, er noe jeg verdsetter. Å kunne tillate alle sammensetninger, i farger, flater og former, fra det mest utflytende og abstrakte til ønskede symboler og motiver.
In June 2024, Reiten established Art & Body – Paradise on Earth in Porsgrunn, located in a beautiful area by the river near the new bridge that will connect the east and west sides (scheduled to open in May 2025). The venue is situated close to Kunsthall Grenland and Ælvespeilet Kulturhus. Art & Body serves as a unique space for spontaneous exhibitions showcasing Reiten’s art, as well as her personal studio where she works daily.
Her ongoing project, titled “The Golden Thread,” consists of a series of 16 paintings, each measuring 175 x 130 cm. The series began in the summer of 2024, shortly after the passing of her mother on Åsne Margretes birthday, May 3. This profound event led her to explore and reflect on the deeper meaning of life’s “gold.” She questions whether this “golden thread” is something that guides us from beginning to end, a persistent sparkle within us, even during life’s toughest moments. Could it symbolize the eternal connection between our inner selves and the external world? Does it represent nature in its broadest sense, a universe where everything is interconnected—a non-dual existence? Could paradise on Earth actually be found both within and around us?
The complete series will eventually be exhibited as a unified collection, accompanied by texts written by the artist for each painting. Segments of the series have already been displayed, initially in November 2024, and the next showing is scheduled for June 2025 at Art & Body – Paradise on Earth in Porsgrunn. This will be a one-week pop-up exhibition, with a re-opening in August as part of the KUNSTLØYPA event.
Further details will be announced soon.
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