Solo exhibition run run as fast as you can, Salongen, Stavanger, Norway, 2022

In this exhibition, Katharina Bjelland seeks to shed light on our daily choices, through how we constantly optimise our achievements, related to ourselves, our family and our social lives. Choices that take time and energy. We work to live, to raise our standard of living, to be able to consume more and more. We strive to balance work, health and leisure for ourselves and our family. To top it all, we constantly worry about our world, the ongoing wars, injustice and climate change; not to forget trying to deal with the aftermath of COVID. run run as fast as you can sheds light on the "time crunch", the metaphor for our time and the raucous and merciless atmosphere that is created when you want everything and try to achieve it.

Katharina Bjelland’s work often includes mass-produced materials she collects over time. Some she specifically seeks out. In this exhibition KB uses flattened shoe boxes, Jotun paint sample cards as well as Somerset fine art paper as her canvas.

The exhibited flattened shoeboxes are by popular shoe brands for running and active wear.  Grey Jotun paint sample cards can be found in every hardware store in Norway with Jotun being the leading Norwegian producer of decorative paint.

The texts portray middle-class (family) life in modern society using quotes from children's games and work life as well as pop culture references.

KB playfully explores materialism and consumer behaviour and likes to manipulate text with undertones of irony and humor to invite critical reflection.  

Photos taken by Jan Inge Haga