This month, we explore artworks that shed light on humanity, an eternal source of inspiration and reflection. Art depicting human figures, emotions, and narratives provides us with insights into our own experiences and identities. Through various mediums such as sculptures, ceramics, and photographs, we present works ranging from abstract interpretations to expressive expressions. Each artist brings their unique perspectives on human existence to life, inviting us to delve into the complexity of human beauty, vulnerability, and strength. These works not only offer visual pleasures but also provide a deeper glimpse into the human inner world, conveyed through the power of art to inspire, provoke, and move us.

Christian Tunge (b. 1989, NO) holds a BFA in photography from the University of Gothenburg (2015). Tunge works primarily with photography, printing and art books. He is interested in how todays society relate to images, and several of his recent photo series deal with digital image sharing. Tunge has made a name for himself within the graphic medium and has in resent years produced several of his artworks as prints rather than traditional photo-prints. In 2022, Tunge was awarded the Norske Grafikeres Fonds graphics prize for a series of riso prints exhibited during the annual Autumn Exhibition. Several of his more recent works have ornamented frames, an element that plays on the historical and traditional design of frames, as well as the current use of signs and images in digital communication. Tunge explores photography as a medium and photography’s development in today’s society in a number of ways. In addition to his own artistry, he is the founder of the art book publisher Heavy Books, which specializes in printed publications from young artists. The publications are at the intersection between books and works of art, and come in limited editions. Tunge is also one of the people behind the artist-run photo gallery MELK, which opened its doors in 2009.

Tunges works has been a part of the Autumn Exhibition 2022 in Oslo, the Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art, and his works has been shown in numerous galleries in both Sweden and Norway.

Audun Alvestad (b. 1980, Ålesund) graduated from the Bergen Academy of Art and Design (MA, BA) with an exchange at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.

Alvestad has distinguished himself within the movement of naively figurative painting and is recognized for his exploration of society's shifting gender roles and social structures. His works are characterized by a distinctive and playful painting technique, with a distinct color palette that includes pastel colors, as well as deeper shades of blue and purple. Often, his paintings depict themes revolving around interpersonal and tragicomic scenes, inviting viewers to relate. Drawing inspiration from everyday life, Alvestad’s motifs capture social scenarios with an underlying touch of humor. Viewers are presented with people in various situations, such as cycling, bathing, shopping, or hanging out in the park – scenes that most can recognize from their own lives and surroundings. While the characters often remain anonymous, the surroundings remain recognizable, creating a place that feels both familiar and distant, safe yet evasive.

Alvestad's paintings can be interpreted as an exploration of loneliness and social challenges, while also reflecting contemporary society and the individual's quest for their own place within it. He seeks to portray the underlying longing for belonging and stability in a chaotic world. Through the titles of his artworks, he adds an extra layer of meaning that encourages viewers to reflect more deeply on the actions unfolding.

Alvestad's works have been acquired by both private and public collections, including The Bunker Artspace Museum, The Preuss Collection, The Azman Museum, and The Drake Collection.

Maria Pasenau (b.1994, Mjøndalen) holds a degree from the Norwegian School of Photography in Trondheim. She works primarily with photography, installation, performance and sculpture. Pasenau has garnered attention for boundary-breaking exhibitions that thematize taboo topics such as gender, the body and sexuality, where she points to contemporary self-staged media culture. The expression is self-revealing and seemingly unpolished and uncensored. Through her artistic practice, Pasenau highlights multi-voiced expressions of what it means to be young today, where sexuality is closely linked with vulnerability. Pasenau is among the youngest artists to have been acquired by the National Museum in Norway.

Marthe Bleu (b. 1994) is educated at Oslo Fotokunstskole (2014-2016) and Bergen Academy of Fine Arts (2017-2020). Bleu writes stories with a camera. In a world where photo sharing of life's highlights is central, her focus is the darker sides of this addiction. In dim basement rooms, dark apartments, on beds, floors and toilets, love, loneliness and longing are depicted. Without a filter, Bleu goes from harsh contrasts to unclear focus, where the imperfect takes center stage. The self-portrait is something Bleu often falls back on. She is the one we can follow, like a red thread in ups and downs, friendship, sex, relationships and the hard asphalt of the next generation's attempt at life. Bleu is a voice for his generation and their search for meaning in a world full of possibilities. The Snap-shot aesthetic depicts fragmented moments and creates a true and honest image of our real reality.

Peter Mohall (born 1979, Skåne, Sweden) was educated at the Oslo Academy of Fine Art.

Mohall made an early mark with a minimalist expression and paintings revolving around the idea of the perfected brushstroke. In these paintings, the brushstroke served as a ready-made element, where series of paintings were based on exactly the same starting point. In Mohall's new series of paintings (2020), he primarily explores a figurative visual language, where reproductions of brushstrokes act as footnotes to the color choices in the painting.

Endre Aalrust (b. 1973, Hamar, Norway) is a Norwegian artist and film maker living and working in Berlin. He studied History of Ideas, Sociology, Art history at the University of Oslo (1992 – 1997) and art at the National Academy of the Arts in Bergen (1998 – 2002).

Aalrust’s work is driven by an interest in questioning hegemonic ideas and power structures - be it in intimate relations, in families, between friends and lovers, in art, language or politics. When painting, he borrows from a source book of awkward design, kitsch and maudlin sentimentality. Visually he plays with traditional painterly genres such as portrait, landscape and still life. His motifs, however, are more frequently collected from memes, dating apps and lifestyle blogs rather than art history or literature. Humor plays an important role in his works, often combined with feelings of bashfulness and shame. Despite his works’ often jokingly lightness, the onlooker is left with an undefined feeling, questioning whether the works are authentic and touching or silly and devious – not unlike the feeling one might get after scrolling through too many Instagram reels or having spent a whole sunny day inside watching an average series on Netflix.

His work is included in the collection of Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin, Germany, Museum By Art Matters, Hangzhou, China, Oslo Kommunes Kunstsamling, Norway, Equinor Art Programme, Norway, Innlandet Fylkeskommune, Norway and NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.

Sverre Bjertnæs (b. 1976, Trondheim) has a degree from the Art Academy in Oslo (1999) and the Duch Art Institute in the Netherlands (2004). Bjertnæs has been apprentice to some of Norway's most famous figurative artists, such as Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik (1989-93) and Odd Nerdrum (1993-94). His early work is characterized by an attraction towards dark tones and still-life, portraits and model studies. During his time at the academy, Bjertnæs explored a more photorealistic painting method with more subdued colours with Villiam Hammershøi as an obvious source of inspiration. His recent work reflects an exploration of the creative process's dialogue-based starting point, based on greater collaboration with other artists, directors, actors and writers. Through the use of literary and art historical references, Bjertnæs creates a distinctive artistic expression, which has made him one of Norway's most sought-after artists.