Oslo Municipality - 2024
Anniversary foam lid
I am pleased to offer a print of Oslo's first anniversary foam lid in connection with the 400th anniversary of the city fire on August 17, 1624.
As a result of the reconstruction and relocation of the city, the capital was given the name Christiania by King Christian IV. From 1 January 1925, the city officially took back its name Oslo.
A little about me
Aina Hartmann, a trained upholsterer, has also completed an apprenticeship in fine arts with a specialization in graphics. Today, she combines her artistic activities with furniture upholstering, which allows her to utilize her full creative spectrum. Hartmann has her permanent studio at the old Veterinary School at Adamstuen in Oslo, where she explores both traditional and innovative graphic techniques. She has participated in many solo and group exhibitions and has also been involved in decoration assignments and specially commissioned artworks.
Her inspiration comes from the vibrant diversity of nature, a source that she sees as invaluable since it is not man-made. Nature is tangible and can be both touched and felt. Hartmann's work is created from experiences, discoveries, research and reflections. In recent years, she has been particularly fascinated by the micro-life in the soil – that which is below the surface and which is essential for the growth and life of nature. Without this foundation, humanity would face great challenges.
This fascination materialized in a large painting, completed in 2020, depicting a myriad of microorganisms interacting with plant roots – a work that emphasizes the modest role of humans in the grand scheme of nature.
Hartmann is also working on a long-term project where she prints/depicts manhole covers from all over Norway. There is a lot of history in the manhole covers around Norway and Hartmann wants to highlight them and make people aware of the history, as well as the art that has emerged and risen from the streets and roads. This unique project started in 2015 and is still ongoing.
In 2024, with support from the Norwegian Agency for Culture, she designed Oslo's first anniversary foam lid on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the city fire in Oslo.
On August 17, 2024, the day of the city fire, the manhole cover was unveiled in the Memorial Park at the Church of the Holy Cross.
Norway's Kumlok Art
Introduction to the Project
"Norway's Manhole Art" is a unique art project initiated by Aina Hartmann, an innovative Norwegian artist. The project was born out of a fascination with manhole covers, an often overlooked but essential element in the urban landscape.
Source of inspiration
Hartmann's inspiration came from the unique design of manhole covers, which usually go unnoticed under our feet. She saw the beauty and potential in these everyday objects and was driven by a desire to elevate them from street level to the world of art.
The art process
Hartmann's technique involves a direct printing process on the manhole cover plate. She began her preliminary project in 2015, with the first prints produced in 2016. Each municipality in Norway has contributed to the project through their unique manhole covers, which Hartmann has carefully selected and used as printing plates. This has created a colorful and diverse collection of prints, each with its own history and character.
The journey through Norway
Hartmann's journey through Norway to capture these motifs has been a central part of the project. She has visited a number of municipalities, each of which has added a distinct local feel and identity to the project.
First Exhibition
The project culminated in a successful first exhibition in Oslo in 2023. The exhibition showcased a wide range of Hartmann's manhole prints, giving the audience a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diversity and beauty of street art.
Conclusion
"Norge's Manhole Art" is not just an art project; it is a celebration of the unexpected and the unseen in our urban landscape. It encourages the audience to look down and rediscover the beauty that lies right beneath our feet. Through this project, Aina Hartmann has redefined street art and presented a new way of experiencing and appreciating the urban environment.
Photo by Fabian Ubeda at NRK Troms and Finmark, during the printing of the Tromsø manhole cover in 2017. See article on NRK