Exhibition opening: Thursday, September 11, 6:00 PM–8:00 PM.
Tegnerforbundet – the Norwegian Drawing Center is pleased to present Kitty Crowther's first art exhibition in Norway. Kitty Crowther (b. 1970) is a renowned Belgian illustrator, author and artist. She has made a strong mark in the children's book field over a long career, and is known for her expressive illustrations that often address emotional and existential themes. The exhibition shows drawings and monotypes from recent years, and provides insight into a side of Crowther's production that is still little known to many.
Entre deux eaux. Between Two Waters.
The title Entre deux eaux. Between Two Waters reflects the experience of existing and observing from a space between, a notion which is echoed in Crowther’s background. Born in Brussels, to an English father and a Swedish mother, she was imbued with a sense of dual identities, simultaneously local and foreign.She grew up with a hearing impairment, a trait that often required her to deduce meaning through other senses. This made her adept at building bridges between her experience of the world and what those around her seemed to be communicating. She built a rich internal universe in the process, which she expressed from an early age through drawing.
Series of works with pencil drawings and monotypes
The exhibition features two series of works: one with pencil drawings and a series of monotypes. The series of pencil drawings, consisting of over 150 works, is entitled Face the day and was created during the pandemic. The works are products of a confusing and isolating time. They show faces and evoke the feeling of staring into a small bathroom mirror over the sink for a little too long. In a hallucinatory way, the face in front of you can begin to change and dissolve into a new configuration. Crowther's goal is for the viewer to enter into a dialogue with the image. When we look at the face in front of us, it is shaped by the encounter between the artist's line and our own projection.
The second series consists of monumental monotypes that mainly depict faces. The monotypes build on the pencil drawings, but with a power all their own. They are characterized by raw, colorful expressions where each confronting image has a unique identity. The exhibition also features monotypes that depict hybrid creatures, somewhere between plant and animal, in a span between growth and decay. These organic forms could just as easily be at home underwater as on land, and can, for example, move between flower, radiant sun and starfish. They transcend categories and embrace the fluid boundaries and living textures found in nature. The sharp and delicate pencil drawings form a strong contrast to the diffuse character of the monotypes, and show the breadth of Crowther's energetic and expressive line.
About Kitty Crowther
Kitty Crowther is an award-winning illustrator and author, primarily known for her children's books. She has published over forty books that have been translated and distributed in several countries. She has also been awarded numerous prizes, including the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), where the jury highlighted her ability to seamlessly combine fantasy and reality, and her mastery of both line and atmosphere. Crowther has had solo exhibitions in galleries and art institutions around the world.
Curator: Rosanna Vibe.
Producer: Hilde Lunde.
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Files to download:
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Events during the exhibition period:
Friday, September 12: Oslo Culture Night:
- The gallery is open late from 12 noon to 8 pm.
- Drop-in workshop for families with Anette Heramb based on Kitty Crowther's works, between 4-8 pm. Find out more.
Friday 17 October: Curator's tour, at 13.
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Image (section): Kitty Crowther. Photo: Théodore Bauthier.
