Oslofjord Ecologies Experiences exhibition and symposium took place from August 12th to 20th in RAM gallery, Oslo, curated by Kristin Bergaust. The exhibition is an outcome of Oslofjord Ecologies, art and research project that is focusing on climate, environmental and social changes in the Nordic and Baltic region. This project combines contemporary art approach with technologies, biology, pedagogy and the cultural and historical heritage, in order to create and display innovative artworks that aspire to offer new experiences in a performative manner.

The exhibition included artworks by Norwegian, Finnish and Latvian artists, who were exploring undergoing environmental changes in Oslo city fjords since the first oil station was built in the 1960s, as well as addressing other sustainability issues by exploring the poetics of "green energy". The artwork by Latvian artists Rasa Smite & Raitis Smits – “Biotricity. Fluctuations of Microworlds" is visualizing the production of "bacteria electricity" in wetland areas such as ponds, swamps and seacoasts. "Biotricity" artwork consists of "bacteria batteries" (micro-bial fuel cells) which generate electricity in real time and converts it into real-time sound and image structures.

During the "OsloFjord Ecologies Experiences" exhibition, Rasa Smite, Raitis Smits and Kristin Bergaust were making a field-trip to the Oslofjords, studying the history and biology of Oslo fjord area. They were collecting mud samples from the sea, recording 360-video and retrieving other data from the environment (sound, sensors), which will be used for new collaborative artworks on VR together with Kristin Bergaust. The first ideas and shootings from the "virtual experiences" trip in Oslo fjord were presented during the exhibition opening of August 12th, 2017. 

The OsloFjord Experiences exhibition took place at the “RAM” gallery in Oslo, presenting experimental and contemporary projects by artists Rasa Smite & Raitis Smits (LV), Siri Austeen, Kristin Bergaust, Anneke van der Fehr (NO), Tona Gulpinar (NO), Alexis Parra (CU/NO), Sabine Popp (DE/NO), Elin T Sørensen (NO), Gunhild Vatn (NO).

The exhibition was complemented by symposium programme, performances and workshops open to public, students and young people.

The participation of Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits in the OsloFjord Ecologies exhibition at RAM Gallery, meeting with Norwegian art scence, and field-trip to OsloFjord was supported by Nordic Culture Point.

The creation of the artwork by Smite & Smits and the production of the exhibition took in the framework of Creative Europe's supported project – “Renewable Futures”, and NordPlus funded project – “Hybrid Lab”.

More info:

http://www.ramgalleri.no/eng/arrangements/oslofjord-ecologies  – RAM Gallery announcments about the symposium
http://www.ramgalleri.no/utstillinger/oslofjord-ecologies – RAM Gallery announcments about the exhibition
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/kd/maksla/rasa-un-raitis-smiti-piedalas-_oslo-fjordu-ekologijas_-simpozija-un-izstade-14178125 – article in Latvian Cultural Newspaper blog site (in Latvian)
http://www.tvnet.lv/izklaide/makslas/672458-rasa_un_raitis_smiti_piedalisies_izstade_oslo_fjordu_ekologijas – post in News portal TVNET (in Latvian)