The marshland at Lista is a protected biotop, it used to be the biggest in the south of Norway. Though the marsh provided the people living at Lista with materials, they have always viewed it as a problem. It was a worthless piece of land and it was difficult to cross. Now after a hundred years draing, people are starting to realize the value of the peat bog. The enclosed marshland is an important reason why Lista has its unique wildlife, especially the many red listed birds. We do not know the long term effect of the peat bog disappearing, and it could potentially have quite an impact on the environment.
The artist Reidar Rudjord was one of the few people who found the marshland valuable and interesting. Rudjord spent many years painting in the peat bog, and with his work he documented the changes in the landscape. Looking back at Rudsjords work, seeing how the marsh changed in his lifetime we are reminded of the big impact humans have on nature. In the spirit of Rudjord and i collaboration with The artist Britt Juul, we brought the canvases from an exhibition Juul had at Lista in 1997 out in the marshland and repainted them with colors found in the landscape. Originally the paintings were brightly colored in contrast to the earthy tones of the marsh.
Collaboration with Britt Juul, Stivkuling architects, Helene Aasgaard, Anne Sørseth and Noah Stutchbury