NORWEGIAN BIOGRAPHIC ENCYCLOPEDIA 2005, volume 10, page 155
AAMOT, Rolf, 1934-, electronic painter, graphician, visual tonal-image-composer, film director and cultural author. Born 28.9.1934 in Bergen. Parents: Entrepreneur Randulf Andreas Aamot (1895-1981) and seamstress Petra Kristine Marie Aspevik (1904-94). Married 1960 to painter and composer Bjørg Lødøen (7.12.1931-), daughter of Chief Physician Olav Arnold Lødøen (1907-97) and Borghild Høyem Dybvik (1909-2002).
Rolf Aamot, has since the 1950`s, been regarded a pioneer within electronically based expressions of art in graphics and photo paintings as well as the scenic and filmatic media. His exploration of experimental innovative technology (data, laser, photo technique) combined with multiple traditional art forms (music, film, theatre, ballet and photo arts) has gained international interest and attention.
While still attending Academy of Arts and Craft 1952-55, Aamot was granted a great decoration assignment for the Paleontologic Museum of Oslo. His traditional education then continued at The Public Academy of Arts 1958-60 with the professors Aage Storstein and Alexander Schultz as masters. Both worked under the impression of cubism and new classicism, and were devoted to the 1920`s efforts to unite figuration and abstraction.
Throughout his artistic endeavor, Aamot has been inspired by the accelerating contemporary electronic development. This led him into exploration and study to express new artistic expressions for concerts, film and television. Among other things, he accomplished a series of classes at Public school of Film studies/Public Centre for film 1969-77 and at The Drama Institute of Stockholm 1973. Through his work, he obtained professional contact and undertook study travels to Austria 1952, Italy 1959 and Spain 1961. During the years 1966-84, his works of art were displayed in Scandinavia, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Soviet Union, USA and Japan.
The modern electronic-technologic development during the years of 1955-65 and the frankness of picture arts towards other art forms, gave Rolf Aamot mind-boggling opportunities. Both artistically and technically, the graphic tone-arts/picture-music evolved through laser- and computer-technology. The tone-arts belonging to music, film and television was expressed in the show Evolution (1966) with music composed by Arne Nordheim. The works was broadcasted in 1967 in Norwegian Broadcasting System Television (NRK/TV), and it then represented a milestone of a new art-form in which the television-medium, for the first time in Europe, was used as an independent picture-artistic means of expression. Inspired by the results, which now existed after 10 years of technical studies in close contact with a rich and complex artistic environment, Aamot continued his work throughout the 1970`s with electronic paintings, art films and video arts for different medias. This often occurred in cooperation with the painter and composer Bjørg Lødøen. In 1986 came their joint picture-tune drama Medusa, in which Lødøen contributed as an actor.
The basis was laid for visual picture-tunes in color, nuance and line; a performance/play for the eye in motion through time and space. In a rare way, Aamot`s sophisticated tune-based colorite manages to provide spatial depth, and simultaneously appeal to the viewers participation in its fiction. This is as much a question of internal, as well as external landscapes in human search for an expression of a contemporary acknowledgement. Even if his motives are in an abstract shape, they will provide associations to landscapes reflected in titles as Before the storm and Dead calm (2003).
Less known in the experimental and explorative art deed featuring Aamot, is his photo arts; with earnest character studies of famous Norwegian personalities such as Erik Løchen, Finn Alnæs and Elisabeth Granneman.
Aamot has had exhibitions in The national Norwegian Autumn Exhibition [Kunstnernes Hus], the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden and Bergen Art Museum, as well as contributing in collective exhibitions domestic and abroad, such as Kalmar Art Museum, Louisiana Museum for Modern Arts, the international biennial «The Masters of Graphic Acts» in Hungary, International Print Triennial in Krakow, Poland, and The Norwegian international Ggraphictriennial in Fredrikstad. In the year 2000 he was especially invited by the jury to participate at the The national Norwegian Autumn Exhibition, besides Contemporary Art Gallery in Opole, Poland 2003 and Old Manage in Moscow 2004.
Among Aamot`s separate exhibitions, the exhibitions in the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden 1995 and The Norwegian Museum for Photo art 2003/2004 should be mentioned. Here, he does not only demonstrate the force of coloritic arts, but a highly skilled knowledge of laser and computer techniques, computer painting on canvas, computer graphics, digital photo paintings and picture-tunes in physical time. The motives are characterized by an exquisite intensity in color, based on the over-tone scale of the color, in which they create an unexpected yet profound feeling of space.
Aamot has created several films, as the cinema films Actio (1980) and Aurora borealis (1991), and a number of TV productions. He has been given many public assignments, among others for National committee for Short Film, Norwegian Broadcasting System, Arts Council Norway and Norwegian Film Ltd. Rolf Aamot is represented in the National Museum of Art, the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden, Bergen Art Museum, Kalmar Art Museum and several other public and private collections, and he has been represented at numerous international film- and arts festivals.
With the work Energi (2003), Aamot received Rune Brynestad`s scholarship 2004. The scholarship was granted by Norwegian Visual Artists association.
Ole Petter Bjerkek
WORKS
Literary works [Norwegian titles are translated]:
«New Art – a private or social issue? » , in Kunst for mennesket – eller museet? [Art for Man or Museum?], 1969, pg. 62-77; «Visual Dramaturgy», in Spillerom [Free hands]. Norwegian theatre’s Magazine for dance and theatre, no 3 and 4/1990, pg. 54-55; «The world is our body – colour is love», laser painting, the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden 1995; «The laser painting and the secrets of Art» , in Morgenbladet 1.9.1995; «Physical film – tonal-image style», in Rusch Print, no 2 /1996, pg. 32-33; «Visual Dramaturgs», in Rusch Print, no 5/1996, pg. 32-33; Tidal water, Bergen Art Museum, exhibition 9.5-7.6.1998; «Arts-critics crisis in Bergen», in Bergens Tidende 5.6.1998; «Selection of contemporary Arts», in Dagbladet 21.1.2005; «The Director`s might captures Arts», in Klassekampen 1.3.2005; «Strong Master in own House», in Klassekampen 30.5.2005; «Artists is forced silence», in Morgenbladet 27.5.2005;«Tonal-image and visual Dramaturgy in graphic Art», is being prepared to the Arts Council Norway.
Public works: Dinosaurs, mural wall painting, Paleontologic Museum of Oslo, 1955.
TV-productions: Evolutions, 1966; Relief no 2 (together with E. Roger), 1967-68; BSK, 1969; Structure], 1970; Visual, 1971; Progress, 1977; Medusa (together with B. Lødøen), 1986; Pulse, 1986; The extraction, 1987; Sound in close, 1987; The Dream is always, 1988.
Films: Relieff, 1966-67; Kinetisk Energi, 1967-68; Vision 1969; Actio, 1980; Nordlys, 1991; Tid-e-vann (together with K. Linder), 1997-2000; Energi, 2003; Destruksjon, 2004.
Exhibition on the internet: Photo digital painting, Feeling of a deeply grief, www.preusmuseum.no.
SOURCES AND LITERATURE
A. M. Klausen: Kunstsosiologi, 1977; G. Alfsen: biografi i Norsk kunstnerleksikon, [Norwegian artist Encyclopedia] bd. 4, 1986; U. Renberg: «Billedmusikken kommer!», i Arbeiderbladet 21.4.1987; Å. Forfang: «Underholdningsindustrien er vår tids krigsmakt», i Dag og Tid 7.5.1987; MF: «Musikk i TV. Bildemusikalsk revirkamp», i Programbladet 8.-14.5.1987; Allgemeines Kunstnerlexikon, München-Leipzig 1992; C. Wiggen: «Ekspresjonistisk stil» og «Billedmusikalsk stil», i Rusch Print no 6/1993, pg. 14-15; Ø. Hauge: «Elektriske skygger», i Bergens Tidende 2.11.1994; J. Holmelid: «Med laser som pensel», i Bergens Tidende 22.11.1994; O. Fyllingsnes: «Fargesprakande lasermåleri», i Dag og Tid 31.8.1995; H. Flor: «’Myk’ laser på lerret», i Dagbladet 10.9.1995; Ø. Storm Bjerke: Rolf Aamot – digitale fotomalerier, Norsk museum for foto [Preuss Museum] 2003; E. Bjørnskau: «Smerte med digitale fargefrekvenser», i Aftenposten 7.11.2003.
[Translated from the Norwegian by Ole Petter Bjerkek and Jens Thomas Bjerkek]
AAMOT, Rolf, 1934-, electronic painter, graphician, visual tonal-image-composer, film director and cultural author. Born 28.9.1934 in Bergen. Parents: Entrepreneur Randulf Andreas Aamot (1895-1981) and seamstress Petra Kristine Marie Aspevik (1904-94). Married 1960 to painter and composer Bjørg Lødøen (7.12.1931-), daughter of Chief Physician Olav Arnold Lødøen (1907-97) and Borghild Høyem Dybvik (1909-2002).
Rolf Aamot, has since the 1950`s, been regarded a pioneer within electronically based expressions of art in graphics and photo paintings as well as the scenic and filmatic media. His exploration of experimental innovative technology (data, laser, photo technique) combined with multiple traditional art forms (music, film, theatre, ballet and photo arts) has gained international interest and attention.
While still attending Academy of Arts and Craft 1952-55, Aamot was granted a great decoration assignment for the Paleontologic Museum of Oslo. His traditional education then continued at The Public Academy of Arts 1958-60 with the professors Aage Storstein and Alexander Schultz as masters. Both worked under the impression of cubism and new classicism, and were devoted to the 1920`s efforts to unite figuration and abstraction.
Throughout his artistic endeavor, Aamot has been inspired by the accelerating contemporary electronic development. This led him into exploration and study to express new artistic expressions for concerts, film and television. Among other things, he accomplished a series of classes at Public school of Film studies/Public Centre for film 1969-77 and at The Drama Institute of Stockholm 1973. Through his work, he obtained professional contact and undertook study travels to Austria 1952, Italy 1959 and Spain 1961. During the years 1966-84, his works of art were displayed in Scandinavia, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Soviet Union, USA and Japan.
The modern electronic-technologic development during the years of 1955-65 and the frankness of picture arts towards other art forms, gave Rolf Aamot mind-boggling opportunities. Both artistically and technically, the graphic tone-arts/picture-music evolved through laser- and computer-technology. The tone-arts belonging to music, film and television was expressed in the show Evolution (1966) with music composed by Arne Nordheim. The works was broadcasted in 1967 in Norwegian Broadcasting System Television (NRK/TV), and it then represented a milestone of a new art-form in which the television-medium, for the first time in Europe, was used as an independent picture-artistic means of expression. Inspired by the results, which now existed after 10 years of technical studies in close contact with a rich and complex artistic environment, Aamot continued his work throughout the 1970`s with electronic paintings, art films and video arts for different medias. This often occurred in cooperation with the painter and composer Bjørg Lødøen. In 1986 came their joint picture-tune drama Medusa, in which Lødøen contributed as an actor.
The basis was laid for visual picture-tunes in color, nuance and line; a performance/play for the eye in motion through time and space. In a rare way, Aamot`s sophisticated tune-based colorite manages to provide spatial depth, and simultaneously appeal to the viewers participation in its fiction. This is as much a question of internal, as well as external landscapes in human search for an expression of a contemporary acknowledgement. Even if his motives are in an abstract shape, they will provide associations to landscapes reflected in titles as Before the storm and Dead calm (2003).
Less known in the experimental and explorative art deed featuring Aamot, is his photo arts; with earnest character studies of famous Norwegian personalities such as Erik Løchen, Finn Alnæs and Elisabeth Granneman.
Aamot has had exhibitions in The national Norwegian Autumn Exhibition [Kunstnernes Hus], the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden and Bergen Art Museum, as well as contributing in collective exhibitions domestic and abroad, such as Kalmar Art Museum, Louisiana Museum for Modern Arts, the international biennial «The Masters of Graphic Acts» in Hungary, International Print Triennial in Krakow, Poland, and The Norwegian international Ggraphictriennial in Fredrikstad. In the year 2000 he was especially invited by the jury to participate at the The national Norwegian Autumn Exhibition, besides Contemporary Art Gallery in Opole, Poland 2003 and Old Manage in Moscow 2004.
Among Aamot`s separate exhibitions, the exhibitions in the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden 1995 and The Norwegian Museum for Photo art 2003/2004 should be mentioned. Here, he does not only demonstrate the force of coloritic arts, but a highly skilled knowledge of laser and computer techniques, computer painting on canvas, computer graphics, digital photo paintings and picture-tunes in physical time. The motives are characterized by an exquisite intensity in color, based on the over-tone scale of the color, in which they create an unexpected yet profound feeling of space.
Aamot has created several films, as the cinema films Actio (1980) and Aurora borealis (1991), and a number of TV productions. He has been given many public assignments, among others for National committee for Short Film, Norwegian Broadcasting System, Arts Council Norway and Norwegian Film Ltd. Rolf Aamot is represented in the National Museum of Art, the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden, Bergen Art Museum, Kalmar Art Museum and several other public and private collections, and he has been represented at numerous international film- and arts festivals.
With the work Energi (2003), Aamot received Rune Brynestad`s scholarship 2004. The scholarship was granted by Norwegian Visual Artists association.
Ole Petter Bjerkek
WORKS
Literary works [Norwegian titles are translated]:
«New Art – a private or social issue? » , in Kunst for mennesket – eller museet? [Art for Man or Museum?], 1969, pg. 62-77; «Visual Dramaturgy», in Spillerom [Free hands]. Norwegian theatre’s Magazine for dance and theatre, no 3 and 4/1990, pg. 54-55; «The world is our body – colour is love», laser painting, the Henie-Onstad Art Centre at Høvikodden 1995; «The laser painting and the secrets of Art» , in Morgenbladet 1.9.1995; «Physical film – tonal-image style», in Rusch Print, no 2 /1996, pg. 32-33; «Visual Dramaturgs», in Rusch Print, no 5/1996, pg. 32-33; Tidal water, Bergen Art Museum, exhibition 9.5-7.6.1998; «Arts-critics crisis in Bergen», in Bergens Tidende 5.6.1998; «Selection of contemporary Arts», in Dagbladet 21.1.2005; «The Director`s might captures Arts», in Klassekampen 1.3.2005; «Strong Master in own House», in Klassekampen 30.5.2005; «Artists is forced silence», in Morgenbladet 27.5.2005;«Tonal-image and visual Dramaturgy in graphic Art», is being prepared to the Arts Council Norway.
Public works: Dinosaurs, mural wall painting, Paleontologic Museum of Oslo, 1955.
TV-productions: Evolutions, 1966; Relief no 2 (together with E. Roger), 1967-68; BSK, 1969; Structure], 1970; Visual, 1971; Progress, 1977; Medusa (together with B. Lødøen), 1986; Pulse, 1986; The extraction, 1987; Sound in close, 1987; The Dream is always, 1988.
Films: Relieff, 1966-67; Kinetisk Energi, 1967-68; Vision 1969; Actio, 1980; Nordlys, 1991; Tid-e-vann (together with K. Linder), 1997-2000; Energi, 2003; Destruksjon, 2004.
Exhibition on the internet: Photo digital painting, Feeling of a deeply grief, www.preusmuseum.no.
SOURCES AND LITERATURE
A. M. Klausen: Kunstsosiologi, 1977; G. Alfsen: biografi i Norsk kunstnerleksikon, [Norwegian artist Encyclopedia] bd. 4, 1986; U. Renberg: «Billedmusikken kommer!», i Arbeiderbladet 21.4.1987; Å. Forfang: «Underholdningsindustrien er vår tids krigsmakt», i Dag og Tid 7.5.1987; MF: «Musikk i TV. Bildemusikalsk revirkamp», i Programbladet 8.-14.5.1987; Allgemeines Kunstnerlexikon, München-Leipzig 1992; C. Wiggen: «Ekspresjonistisk stil» og «Billedmusikalsk stil», i Rusch Print no 6/1993, pg. 14-15; Ø. Hauge: «Elektriske skygger», i Bergens Tidende 2.11.1994; J. Holmelid: «Med laser som pensel», i Bergens Tidende 22.11.1994; O. Fyllingsnes: «Fargesprakande lasermåleri», i Dag og Tid 31.8.1995; H. Flor: «’Myk’ laser på lerret», i Dagbladet 10.9.1995; Ø. Storm Bjerke: Rolf Aamot – digitale fotomalerier, Norsk museum for foto [Preuss Museum] 2003; E. Bjørnskau: «Smerte med digitale fargefrekvenser», i Aftenposten 7.11.2003.
[Translated from the Norwegian by Ole Petter Bjerkek and Jens Thomas Bjerkek]