Halvor Skiftun Digernes
Artistic Curriculum Vitae
Education
2019–2022
Bachelor of Arts, Art and Craft (Ceramics), Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO), Oslo, Norway2002–2005
Bachelor of Science, Hotel Management, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway1996–1999
Upper Secondary School, Drama Programme, Hartvig Nissen School, Oslo, Norway
Exhibitions, Projects, and Craft-Related Work
2024
Participated in the Christmas Exhibition at Kunstnerforbundet, exhibiting multiple works and functional ceramic objects.
“Play and Clay” at Håndkraft: Facilitated the production of ceramic sculptures by children at Vålerenggata Kindergarten.
“Havnelangs”: Led a blue clay art workshop for children at Vippa, Oslo.
Performance: “How Long Does It Take to Build a Ruin?” as part of “The Visual Character of Language When It Comes Alive” with Bård Torgersen at Blå, Oslo.
“Calcining Cobalt Ore”: Hosted a public event at Blaafarveverket, educating visitors on historical production techniques. Part of an ongoing collaborative project with artist Thomas Iversen and Blaafarveverket.
Lecture and workshop at Studio Håndkraft for Sanke (a non-profit organisation focused on the dissemination of local wild ingredients), discussing foraging and the use of plants in food, drink, and ceramics. Included documentation and photography for a forthcoming foraging book.
Collaborative commission for Andreas Liebe Delsett and Bodø 2024: Produced and developed 22 large serving platters glazed solely with materials sourced from Nordland, used at Bodø City Hall for serving local cuisine.
Commission for Green Light Festival with artist Thomas Iversen: Created a volcano and cups glazed exclusively with materials from the Fensfeltet excavations (site of a 580-million-year-old volcano); also developed a beverage using only local ingredients from Fensfeltet, Porsgrunn.
Produced sake cups for Terada Honke Sake Brewery, using ash from local rice production combined with Norwegian clay, Chiba, Japan.
Presented a lecture at Studio Håndkraft for the Norwegian Crafts Social Club on cobalt ore from the historic mines at Blaafarveverket and the production of oxide, Oslo.
Delivered a lecture at Kunsthall Grenland on natural materials and material histories: “From Mine to Glaze,” Porsgrunn.
Participated in Oslo Open: Open studio and artist talk at Studio Håndkraft.
Artist talk and placement of a ceramic test piece with kelp rope in the sea; launch of the “Træna Cup,” glazed with local stones, minerals, kelp ash, and calcined shell sand, as part of the “Ta Træna med storm” winter festival.
2023
Artist in Residence, Træna (June–July): Exhibition of the project “In Nature’s Deep” at Husøy, artist talk, and experimental archaeological pit firing on Sanna Island. The Helgeland Museum acquired a piece for their collection.
“Hiding in Plain Sight (or Not)” (ongoing until 2027): Collaborative project with Bård Torgersen, featuring ceramic objects with text, placed in various environments and exposed to nature, people, and time.
Commissioned pit-fired ceramic urn for Stian Ådlandsvik’s solo exhibition “Control+/-belonging” at Kinokino, Sandnes.
Produced unique functional objects for Michelin-starred restaurants: Hot Shop (Oslo), Hyde (Oslo), and Lysverket (Bergen).
Artist talk on personal artistic practice at “Ta Træna med storm,” an interdisciplinary festival in Træna (9–12 February).
“Muffelboyz – Burnt Ceramics”: Duo exhibition with ceramicist Audun Jansen Haga at Restaurant Brutus, Oslo.
2022
“Can You Handle It”: Created 25 bespoke ceramic handles for a beer bar in Tokyo, glazed exclusively with Norwegian materials, including stones, clay, sheep skull bone ash, and barley ash from beer production. Presented at ØL Bar, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan (14 October).
“Fjorden”: Solo exhibition featuring the vessel “Fjorden” and a performance/concert inside the vessel by Lars Horntvedt, Vippa, Oslo.
Collaboration with Bendik Kaltenborn on ceramic objects for his exhibition at the Kittelsen Museum. The museum acquired one of the works for their collection.
“Mudder”: Group exhibition, Varmebadet, Drøbak.
“Theting”: Ceramic instrument maker and collaborating performing artist with Ole & Silje, Huleboer, Oslo/Træna.
2021
“In Nature’s Deep”: Artist in Residence, Husøy, Træna Municipality.
Festival Artist, “Velvær på Selvær”, Selvær, Træna Municipality.
Ceramic pit firing project at Losæter, Urban Agriculture Hub, Oslo.
“Waste None”: Ceramic cups glazed with food waste ash from Maaemo, for The Conservatory (Maaemo’s cocktail bar), Oslo.
“Toilet Mirror”: Created from crushed toilet and local clay, installed in the restroom at KIOSK café, Galgeberg, Oslo.
2020
“Oysters on Oysters”: Collaboration on oyster-shaped drinking vessels glazed with oyster, and the creation of an oyster-based beverage, with Restaurant Credo, Trondheim.
2019
“Mørkild”: Establishment, construction, and first firing of a smokeless wood-fired kiln at Mørk Farm, Sætre, Hurum.
Upcoming Projects
“Månemiddag”: Relational/performative dinner with artist Stian Ådlandsvik, Lutz-Rainer Müller, and others at Studio Håndkraft, November.
“Oslobord”: Development and production of blue clay tiles for tables using only materials from Oslo, in collaboration with Fragment Architecture and furniture designer Jone Myking.
“Prosess vol.1”: Collaboration with artist Are Mokkelbost on “Light and Ceramics”, Håndkraft, February.
“Prosess vol.2”: Collaboration with composer Knut Kvifte Nesheim on “Sound and Ceramics”, Håndkraft, March.
“Prosess vol.3”: Collaboration with artist Renate Thor on “Silkscreen and Ceramics”, Håndkraft, May.
Exhibition with artist and architect Håvard Arnhoff at Lørenskog Art Association, Autumn.
Grants and Artistic Support
2024: General Grant, Norwegian Government Grants for Artists
2023: General Grant for Newly Graduated Artists, Norwegian Government Grants for Artists
2023: Artist in Residence, completion of “In Nature’s Deep”, Træna Municipality
2021: Artist in Residence, commencement of “In Nature’s Deep”, Træna Municipality
Additional Activities
2024–present: Part-time Workshop Manager, Ceramics Department, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2023: Produced instructional videos for Craft and Decoding Ceramics: “Ash Glaze from Crayfish” and “Pit Firing”
2023: Substitute course leader for three introductory courses, Ceramics Department, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2022: Ceramic study tour, Kyoto, Japan; visited renowned ceramicist Shin Murata, organised by Takashi Murakami and Kaikaikiki Gallery
2022: Graduation exhibition, KHiO Material-Based Art and Craft, group exhibition, Oslo
2022: Produced instructional video for Craft Norway and KHiO: “Saggerbox Firing”
2020: “Så kom fremtiden”, Kunstplass, group exhibition (organised by KHiO), Kvadraturen, Oslo
2020: “Transformasjon”, Galleri Seilduken (KHiO), solo exhibition and performance, Oslo
2020: “Transformasjon”, short film (director, actor, and producer): Vimeo link
2019: Founder and Board Member, Mørkild. Constructed a clean-burning ceramic kiln at Mørk Farm, Hurum.
2019–2022: Member, Galleri Seilduken, student-run art gallery at Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2018: Ceramic study tour, Mashiko, Japan; visited Tomoo Hamada, grandson of Shoji Hamada (co-founder of the Mingei movement)
2018: Wood-fired kiln/ceramics study tour, Bornholm (self-initiated)
Press
In-depth interview, Japan Times
Website / Social Media
Instagram: Halvor Skiftun Digernes & Studio Håndkraft