Queen Sonja of Norway says art is “a unifying force in turbulent times”
Queen Sonja of Norway has stated that art is a “unifying force in turbulent times”. While presenting a prize for printmaking to the indigenous Sami artist Tomas Colbengston, the monarch of the Scandinavian country gave her thoughts on the importance of artist expression.
Speaking at the European Capital of Culture for 2024, Bodo in Norway, Queen Sonja also presented artist Anselm Kiefer with a lifetime achievement award. Young Swedish artist Maria Kayo Mpoyi also earned an inspiration award.
Sonja had been keen to stress the vital need for communication and culture in our modern political times of turbulence. In Europe this week, there are a number of elections taking place in which far-right parties are expected to gain traction.
At the arts event in Bodo, TV presenter and historian Simon Schama gave a talk on the artist Anselm Keifer and also spoke of the importance of the printmaking medium, especially considering the rise of AI technology, which he described as “threatening”.
Schama also spoke about the importance of art in light of today’s turbulent political times. “It would be nice to think that art was the conveyor of peace,” he said. “But I’m frankly not sure about this.”
The historian continued, “I don’t know that anyone who has an encounter with the Sistine Chapel comes out feeling more peaceful, or with a Caravaggio, or with Jackson Pollock, or with one of the great works of Anselm Kiefer.”
Schama believes, though, that art “has the capacity to be a disturber of peace”. He explained, “One of the measures of great art and great history, I think, is that it’s likely to give you insomnia, even if there is no midnight sun around”.
Discussing the fact that Sami artist Colbengston won the Queen Sonja Print Award 2024, the Norwegian monarch noted, “I am delighted that this year the award has gone to a Sami artist. Tomas Colbengtson’s work is already represented in museum collections and I hope this prize will make his work know even more widely internationally”.
Colbengston’s work is inspired by the destruction of his indigenous culture in Norway in the early 20th century and looks to preserve its traditions through his reflective artworks.
Queen Sonja had also given Anselm Kiefer his Lifetime Achievement Award and spoke of his “distinguished contribution to the art of printmaking through a long and outstanding career”.
