Meta.Morf 2022 – Ecophilia / K-U-K – Kjøpmannsgata Ung Kunst / Exhibition May 6 – August 14 /
Curator: Zane Cerpina / Co-curator: Espen Gangvik
The Party (variation 2) / 2021 – 2022
Maren Dagny Juell [NO]
A surreal post-apocalyptic home party placed in an undefined future where the location is fluid. This work focuses on 3D printed replicas of various household plastic objects, common in 2012, which take on a new role in an imagined post-plastic future.
The party-host guides the party participants through a fragmented story about and relationship with objects. Re-enacting a home party, in a world where this is not possible or relevant. Questioning ideas around Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO) and current collection and valuation of artifacts.
In addition to the film, a sculpture made of 3D printed objects was placed on display in the middle of an arboretum (in an archival research forest) at the University of Biosciences (NMBU) in Norway. The plastic objects are printed in PVA, a material made of corn that composts when exposed to nature. In this way everyday household objects can be thought of as a new temporary collection from the Anthropocene (human) era, but perishable and compostable.
For the new iteration, exhibited at Meta.Morf 2022: Ecophilia, the objects are literally composting in a pile of soil in the gallery. In this way, Maren aims to examine people’s unconscious consumption habits and rituals. As well as the hierarchical relationship between man, nature, and objects.
CAST
Host: Iselin Shumba
Man: Aslak Juell Kristensen
Women (from right to left):
Sarune Bartuasuite Kaupiene
Kuya Bae
Andrea Fritsvold
Yvonne Layne
CREW
Written, directed, edit, and graphics: Maren Dagny Juell
Director of photography: Mattias Pollak
B Photo: Annicken Aasheim
Light: Jon Andre Hakavåg
Sound recording: Rune Baggerud
Sound designer/composer: Arild Iversen
Colourist: Fredrik Harreschou
Makeup artist: Kristina Kvam
Production manager: Hanne Rivrud
Production assistant: Miriam Hald
Commissioned by KORO Norway
Supported by Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond and Nofofo
Maren Dagny Juell
Maren Dagny Juell (1976) is based in Ski, Norway, and works with video, Virtual Reality, and installation.
Maren has an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and has had solo exhibitions at Tenthaus, Atelier Nord, Trafo Kunsthall, Trøndelag Center for Contemporary Art, Podium Oslo and Akershus Kunstnersenter. She has also participated in a large number of group exhibitions at home and abroad. Among others at the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Stavanger Art Museum, The Australian video Biennial and Riga Photography Biennial.
Maren co-runs She Will Artspace with Liv Tandrevold Eriksen, and Tone Berg Størseth.
Header Graphics: “The Party” by Maren Dagny Juell. Video Still.