Successful Kongsberg Exhibition

Coming home after a long period spent abroad is something I generally appreciate and think of with undivided joy and excitement in my private life. An artistic 'homecoming' however, can be an altogether different affair. I must admit that my heart was beating a bit faster as I parked the car outside Kongsberg Kunstforening on the Saturday of the opening of my solo show. I had no idea if anyone would turn up, or what friends and family would think about my work. On one hand they are friends and family - they want your work to be good, and even if they don't appreciate the work, you know that they like you. On the other hand - their opinion does seem to matter so much more, doesn't it? As I climbed the stairs towards the gallery entrance, I spotted Jørn Hagen wringing his hands nervously in the doorway. I obviously thought - there is no one here! My first solo show is a complete disaster! - as I thought he was the only one there. As it turned out, he was just waiting for me, and the gallery was reassuringly packed with people waiting for me with flowers and a few carefully prepared, kind words.
The thing is - as I am completely fresh and inexperienced in the exhibition venue, I honestly don't know what to expect on these occasions. I'm more used to the group shows, where I sneak in half an hour after the opening, trying not to hang around my work too much, and almost feel guilty for being there. So I'm very greatful for all the people that showed up, and to all the new owners of my drawings and paintings. Thank you very much!
I was unfortunately not able to attend more than 3 days of the whole show personally, but a few people managed to get in touch and arrange for a chat, which was very nice. If anyone didn't manage to get ahold of me during the exhibition, please feel free to contact me now.

For those who didn't manage to see the exhibition, some of my drawings will be shown at different Norwegian art societies as part of Tegnerforbundet (the Norwegian Draftmen's Society) and Norges Kunstnerforbund's touring exhibition 2008/09. Some of my work will also be available at Galleri Ramfjord's Stipendutstilling in Oslo in August and at Thompson's Marylebone Gallery in London in September this year. I will write more about this later.