BIOGRAPHY
Mona Eckhoff live and work as a professional visual artist in Oslo, Norway. She masters various disciplines such as water colours, drawing, photography, installation and material-based paintings, which she alternates between in her artistic work. The painting series showed in Gallery Azur and Artsy are named “Under the surface”. They are all made by mixed materials such as sand, gesso, marble dust, shells, lava stone, acrylic and oil. Many of the pieces are cut and drilled, torn and frayed. The texture sometimes flows beyond the form and the surrounding frame become part of both the interior and the exterior.
Mona grew up in the harsh Norwegian nature in a small fishing village, but also close to the deep woods outside of Oslo. Materials and nature have had a huge impact on her work, as well as the nordic colors and light. As an adult she lived among other places several years in Copenhagen, Oslo, Madrid and Prague, and has traveled a lot with her projects. She collect inspiration from contrast of both nature and culture, with sign and prosess of time in both.
She has exhibited in a number of countries and various institutions since 1996. She has run art gallery and pilot projects, as well as Norwegian/Danish collaboration at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Copenhagen. Eckhoff is a buyer for museums and collections, has carried out a number of public decorations, both as an artist and consultant. She has illustrated several books and received nominations, awards and public grants for exhibitions and art projects.
CV
Education
2019-2020 Norwegian Academy of Music, Cultural Entrepreneurship.
1995-99 KIB, Bergen Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts.
1998 Academy of Fine Arts, Madrid.
1992-1994 Fredrikstad University College, NDA, Academy of Drama.
1993 DAMU Academy of Drama/Arts, Prague.
Solo exhibitions
2022 Holmenkollen Museum. 2020, Galleri Walaker, Luster.2018, 2013 Gallery S.E, Bergen.2011 Gallery B15, Copenhagen.2011 The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen.2011 The Opera, Copenhagen. 2010 The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Copenhagen. 2004 Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, 2001 and 2003 Galleri S.E, Bergen, 2000 Rogaland Art Center, Stavanger, 1997 Hordaland artist center.1996
Group exhibitions
Matchbox Biennale, Hernes. 2024 Connections, Kunstforeningen Verdens Ende, Tjøme. 2022 Deep water, Gallery Soon. 2017 Ocean, Samvirke Gallery og Gjesteatelier, Smøla. 2016, Nyt Kapitel, Gallery Banja Rathnov, Museum building, Copenhagen. 2015 Central Suburbs, Gallery Prins Georg. Berlin.2014 Skilsmissen, Bomullsfabrikken, Arendal.2014 Nivaagaards Painting Collection, Nivå, Denmark. 2014 The Divorce, The King’s Lapidarium, Copenhagen. 2014 Artistbook Svends bibliotek, Copenhagen. 2012 Us in between Schæffergården, Gentofte, Denmark. 2012 No.dk Gallery Brantebjerg, Rørvig, Denmark. 2012 Gallery Guddal, Rosendal. 2012 What a Mess,, Hydrogenfabrikken, Fredrikstad. 2011 Cirkilus, Kunstetagerne, Mariagerfjord Art Association, Denmark. 2010-2011 Tegneforbundet, Oslo. 2008 Palette of Freedom, Simfiropol, Ukraine.2000,01-02-03-04-05-2006. Norwegian Pictures, Oslo City Hall. 2000 and 2002 Brandstrup Gallery, Oslo. 2002 Brandstrup Gallery, Stavanger.
2000 Biennale syd Kristiansand Art Association. and Sørlandets Art Museum, Kristiansand. 2000 Culture City Bergen, Bergen Art Association. 2000 Artgenda, Jangvassa Gallery, Helsinki. 1999 Fizzworld, Bergen art association. 1997 USF, Bergen. 1997 Vita Havet, Stockholm. 1995 Nordic Alibi, Oslo Drawingcenter. 1995 Autumn exhibition, The Artists house, Oslo.
Public decorations
2024 Culturcenter Flammen, Nittedal. 2022/23 and 24 Novaform, Oslo. 2010/2019 WSP, Project Management, Oslo. 2013 Molde Traffic Station. 2008 Skreia secondary school.
2003 Postgirobygget, Oslo. 2003 Tasta care homes, Stavanger.
2003 Argentum, Moss. 2002 Refsnes Estate, Moss, Norway.
Public procurement
2024 /25 ART2 Viking Polaris, 2021 Cooperative Art, Viking Octantis. 2004 NRK, Oslo. 2004 Statoil, Bergen. 2002 Stavanger Aftenblad. 2002 TV 2 Norway, Oslo. 2001 Statoil, Bergen. 2000 Southern Art Museum, Kristiansand.
Awards and nominations
2024 Matchbox Biennale.
2002 Carnegie Art Award.
Scholarships and public support
2021 Norwegian Illustration Fund. 2017 Møre og Romsdal County Municipality. 2017 Norwegian Culture Council, Room for Art. 2016 Sør-Trøndelag County Municipality. 2016 Vederlagsfondet project support. 2016 Norwegian Culture Council project support. 2015 Vederlagsfondet Norwegian visual artists. 2015 Læsø Municipality Danmark Culture Fund. 2015 Free words, 2015 Nordic Culture Fund project support. 2015 Møre and Romsdal County, Project support Salon. 2015 The Norwegian Embassy Denmark. 2014 Nordic Culture Fund.
2014, Norwegian Culture Council, Norwegian Icelandic Cultural Cooperation. 2014, Menningarráð norðurlands vestra, Iceland. 2013 Nordic Culture Fund 3 years. 2013 Møre and Romsdal County Project funds culture
2010, 2011, 2012. The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Copenhagen. 2008 Sveio municipality’s art grant, Haugesund. 2008 Ryvarden culture beacon. 2003 State employment grant. 2000 Norwegian Cultural Council debutante support. 2000 Bergen municipality project support. 1999- 2000 Art Academy’s work grant, 1999 Norwegian Cultural Council exhibition support.
STATEMENT
There is a crack in everything, wrote Leonard Coen, where the light can emerge. Where we can reach in, and recognize the human vulnerability and strength. A wound, a hole, a mark, a wrinkle in a face, in a rock wall or in a brick wall. The eternal cycle of construction and deconstruction is a law of nature. Nature and time break everything down and transform it into something new.
A painting has its own process of construction and deconstruction, its own logic and at some point it is perceived as finished. We recognize the brick walls of a city, the rock formations by the sea, the skin of an elephant, the bark of a tree, a moss-covered stump, or the signs of a letter, and wounds of a life. It can be difficult to put the creation of art into words. Apart from the fact that it was necessary to create, recognize and interpret based on its own premises.
In the process of working with the painting, Eckhoff use colors, structures and materials from nature and reflects an eternal validity in humans emotional register and bodily memory. The possibilities in materials and their inherent potential is a huge part of the process.
In terms of art history, her works are connected to the works of Tapie, Luciano Fontana, Alberto Burri, the Italian Arte Povera, and their use of materials, construction and deconstruction.