Linn-Mari Staalnacke
The Hand Smells of Fear
Kabinettet (The Cabinet)
22.02.24 — 07.04.24

The title of Linn-Mari Staalnacke's exhibition of new paintings refers to the non-verbal language, which she perceives as experiential. Her artistic practice revolves around questions related to identity and culture, as well as what lies in the dichotomy between light and darkness. The artist was born and raised in Finnmark, and a significant part of her visual world originates from the culture and environment of her birthplace.

The nature of Northern Norway is associated with the mythological and magical, the colours, and the enveloping light and darkness. In her paintings, Staalnacke depicts abstracted and dissolved landscapes that appear on the border between reality and fantasy. The scenes unfolding on the canvas can seem both ritualistic and absurd.

Her work also explores different layers of human experience, from what one encounters over a lifetime to one’s daily surroundings. Living among friends while the world is in conflict and burning. The fear and the comfort. These explorations manifest as both metaphorical and literal expressions in her works.

Linn-Mari Staalnacke (b. 1983, Alta, Sápmi) primarily works with painting. She has attended the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, as well as the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where she received the Gerrit Rietveld Fine Art Award for her graduation exhibition. Staalnacke has participated in Høstutstillingen several times, and held exhibitions both in Norway and internationally, most recently at Galleri H10 in Skien in 2022, Nitja senter for samtidskunst in 2021, and Alta kunstforening in 2020. Her works have been acquired by the City of Oslo Art Collection.