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LIN16: Art, Design & Creativity in Oslo

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Art, Design and Creativity in Oslo, Norway. An interview with Blank Space founder Elizabeth Ramsey

Podcast episode 16: A dive into art and creativity in Norway with the Director of Blank Space Oslo.

For episode 16 of the Life in Norway Show I'm joined by Elizabeth Ramsey from Blank Space Oslo, an ambitious art collective and creative space in the Norwegian capital.

Liz moved to Norway from America six years ago and quickly set about getting to know people in the art, design and creative communities.

American artist Elizabeth Ramsey lives in Oslo, Norway
Liz Ramsey (Photo: Trym Schade Warloe)

Some of the topics we cover on the show include:

  • What the differences are between creativity in Scandinavia and elsewhere
  • How Norwegians view art and creativity
  • What Blank Space Oslo is and why Liz created it
  • How the ‘average person' can get involved in Blank Space
  • Art and design experiences for those visiting Oslo
  • The challenge of being a foreigner in Norway

Listen to the show

You can listen to the show using the web player below, or on your podcast player of choice, including: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, YouTube (audio only), and now Spotify. Simply search for ‘life in Norway' on your platform of choice to get started.

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Art and Design in Oslo

Liz says the art and design community is very project- and event-based so it's difficult to make too many recommendations for people visiting. That said, she recommends the interest group Grafill as the first port of call for anyone interested in the community. They run exhibitions and events and there is a calendar on their website.

She's also a big fan of the Vigeland Sculpture Park. “I recommend looking at the very authentic view of the lifecycle of life, death, rebirth, over and over again, and not just rushing through the park.”

Vigeland Park sculptures
Vigeland Park, Oslo

Her final recommendation is the pop-up events run by Empty Frame, where designers, illustrators and artists are challenged to interpret subjects and create something visual in a limited time.

Blank Space Oslo

Blank Space is an ambitious creative space in Oslo that works in countless aspects of the visual art and design community.

We are a meeting place for the creative and the productive. We are a safe haven for the curious and the strange. We are a Blank Space for what the visual art and design community needs.

Liz says: “We do events all the way from going to bars allowing people to paint on large wall posters, through to classes about skillscreen printing and so on. Most of our classes are for beginners, you just sign up and come.”

Liz is also a fellow podcaster. She hosts the monthly Blank Space podcast ‘Blah Blah’, which discusses topics as diverse as illustration, silkscreen printing, augmented reality, and video game development.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! It will help others find the show.

Speaking of which, you can also share the episode on Pinterest with this handy pin:

Life in Norway Show Episode 16: American artist Liz Ramsey talks art, design & creativity in the Norwegian capital, plus the story behind Blank Space Oslo

About David Nikel

Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia.

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