Retrospektiv

Oslo Kunstforening’s Summer Exhibition 1999 is dedicated to the artist Rolf Nesch, an artist who has had great significance for Norwegian contemporary art, who also made his mark internationally, and who will stand as one of the finest artists in Norway in this century. The choice of Nesch was a natural one. Rolf Nesch had a solo exhibition at Oslo Kunstforening in 1958, an exhibition that led to his international breakthrough and which he himself considered of great importance.

The board of Oslo Kunstforening had a strong desire to create a thorough presentation of Nesch’s artistic work for the enjoyment of new generations of art enthusiasts, as well as for the many who already have a close relationship to his art. We were therefore very pleased with the positive response from Rolf Nesch’s family, and we especially thank Eivind Otto Hjelle for his contribution and commitment toward finalising the project.
The exhibition committee has consisted of visual artists Karl E. Nilsen and May Talberg, journalist and family representative Eivind Otto Hjelle, and director Kristin Røed.

Rolf Nesch was born in Wurtemberg in 1893 and died in Oslo in 1975. He came to Norway as a refugee in 1933, after being labeled a “cultural Bolshevik” in Germany. His early works were influenced, among others, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, the leader of the Brücke group. Later, decorative elements and a close connection to the natural world of his new homeland became more prominent, though expressive traits remained strongly present. The exhibition shows the diversity of Rolf Nesch’s artistic expression, including prints, drawings, sculpture, material pictures, and metal prints. It highlights his willingness to experiment and explore his medium, and most importantly, the power of his artistic voice.

We thank Rolf Nesch’s family, private collectors, and the National Gallery for lending artworks. We also thank the Norwegian Arts Council, Visual Artists' Assistance Fund, and the National Association of Norwegian Art Societies for their financial support. Thanks to these contributions, the summer exhibition 1999: “Rolf Nesch – Retrospective”, can be realized.

Text translated by Oslo Kunstforening in 2025