Jo Mikkel Sjaastad Huse

(He/him)
Address: Strømsveien 189 Atelierfellesskap, Strømsveien 189, 0668 Oslo
Floor: 2
Room number: 9-10
The studio is open Saturday 26 April from 12-17

Open map

With an inviting visual language, rhetorical tricks and magical-realistic starting points, I create art that is both simple and profound. I work with the position of the animal in the human world, with the inherent potential of objects, and questions about work and leisure.

My aim is to create complete art experiences that make people hopeful, confused and aware in the face of our world’s unfathomable hyper-complexity. To achieve this, I use tools from show business, with dramatic storytelling techniques, the building of anticipation, surprises and pure attempts of simply pleasing the audience.

Currently, I’m working with scenographic silhouette sculptures that explore dichotomies such as front/back, small/large and fake/real. I am part of a cross-disciplinary sound art collaboration that uses urban environments as a tool for analyzing societal conditions. I play in an ontological techno band and I am the initiator and editor of a newly started publication series of art books/zines titled Kiosklitteratur #

Installation, text, sculpture, sound, performance, drawing

linktr.ee/jomikkelshuse
Contact the artist through Atelie.art

Aprox. two and a half meter tall sculpture of some sort of animal. A look that mixes a dog with a horse (with an undeterminable face, that might even seem ape-like, or camel-like). It has a dogs tail, and long, thin legs with hooves.

The sculpture is flat, with a robust support structure made from wooden beams, and ballast/counter-weight consisting of two cement blocks.
Made in painted MDF, yellow, warm-orange with pink details and black hooves. Shadows in dark, greenish tones.
A hole has been carved out in the middle of the sculpture, and acts as a window with non-newtonian glass that gives a milky/frosted look. Behind the window, standing on a shelf made from the material from the hole for the window, is a small sculpture of a chair – made in a similar way as the larger sculpture. Flat with a support structure behind it. The chair has animal feet and the ends of the back-rest look like birds heads. Painted with acrylic paint, brown with a pink pillow.

"Doubting doubt" (2023), Studio Halv, Oslo. A 240cm tall silhouette sculpture of a gigantic, undefined animal. A semi-transparent window in the sculpture's belly reveals a mounted shelf with a small silhouette sculpture of a chair with animal-like features, illuminated by a lamp mounted on the sculpture's back - where there is also a horseshoe, a glass-etched drawing of a chair that may or may not say something to a rat, and two small pieces of paper with text and a drawing. The sculpture allows the animal to be a piece of furniture, and the piece of furniture to be an animal. The work tentatively, in the name of doubt, questions the man-made world order and the hierarchy between living creatures and objects, without asserting anything.

Picture of two pages of a four page comic series.
All drawings depict different backpacks that speak with the use of speech bubbles.
Simple, sketch-like graphite pencil drawings.

Page 1
First drawing:
Dried berries and polypore mushrooms, flint dagger, grass twine, bast rope, copper axe, drill bit, knife sharpener and leather strings.

Second drawing:
History is soft, bundled together, I carry it like any other object.

Third drawing:
I am so basic it is difficult to imagine life without me.
How would the world look? More local, perhaps? Maybe it would even be better..?
A thief without a bag cannot carry too much.

Fourth drawing:
Mobility, the essence of freedom. Strapping your life and your place of work onto your back and setting off. Over the mountains, into the forest. Escaping, restarting, visiting, expanding, exploring.
Mobility is a measurement of privilege and access. Mobility is a question of equality.

Page 2
Fifth drawing:
Songs and poems, gigantic internet supersales. Each year there is a new zipper technology! Multiple generations of entire workforces dedicated to designing and producing us. The simple principle of a portable, contained void, adorned with myriads of details and ornamentations. Globalized commercial hypercomplexities, still it remains almost impossible to find a perfect backpack. We are just as fallible as our creators.

4-page comic published in the Danish art publication Pist Protta nr 93, 2023 17 backpacks speak about being carried through history. About themselves carrying, about being an empty container – a product or an observer.

Focus of image is a car with the lights on (and it is this car that holds a monologue). It stands outside a building, in a little square – under the open sky, it is night/dark out. In the foreground the audience stands and watches the speaking car. Picture from Anafi International Film Festival, 2024.

Link to documentation of performance (as shown at Vandrestaven Udstillingspunkt in 2021. Using an electric car in the charging garage below Akershus Festning. Film with sound and English subtitles):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMMAjsUh7v0

Profound Statement (originally made in collaboration with Vandrestaven Udstillingspunkt, Oslo, 2021 – since shown at Høstutstillingen in Kunstnernes Hus, 2022, and during Anafi International Film Festival 2024, Greece) A depressed car talks about work, about exhaustion, the monotone and the endless, about continuing, continuing, continuing, about bearing and breaking in an abstract loop, a component in an unfathomable machine – and about the possibility of revolt, maybe simply by resting, or by attempting to become a saxophone – something completely different from work, an overwhelming sound, a shriek, a honk, a gigantic, sudden change. Voice actor (and documentation photo): Eli Mai Huang Nesse Link to performance (from Vandrestaven Udstillingspunkt, 2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMMAjsUh7v0

Picture of a sculpture of a rock with a built-in speaker element. Standing on a small stage with a mounted-on lamp – the sculpture has a microphone standing in front of it.

The sculpture is made from painted plywood with moss details made from sawdust paste for texture/relief. A carrying handle made from green rope sticks up from the top of the sculpture – giving the impression that the sculpture can be carried.

Not visible in the photo, is the sculptures backside – where one would have seen a supporting structure, audio gear and a small artist book.

Link to video of performance, with sound.
https://youtu.be/kQoTgMpW_K8

«Tiny Rock Karaoke!» (2023), originally shown at Hjorten Sculpture Park, Stockholm, 2023. Since shown at the opening of Eli Mai Huang Nesse’s show «Just a stone» in Galleri Christinegaard, Bergen, 2024; at the Greek Film Archive in Athens, 2024 (as part of a side program to Anafi International Film Festival); at Winter Solstice på Nitja Senter for Samtidskunst, Lillestrøm, 2024; and as part of a DKS-tour in Østfold and Akershus. A rock suddenly starts singing about being and becoming in a constant feedback loop – about potential and potentiality, about changing, bit by bit, pebble by pebble.

Planned projects and exhibitions

- A newspaper release and exhibition event at Färgfarbriken and Platform, Stockholm (SE), with the collaborative project Public Retreat, together with Johanna Fager and Nicole Cecilie Bitsch Pedersen (Release and opening on 30. of January, exhibition closing on 2. of Feb.)

- In March of 2025, I’ll have a solo show at Oplandia Center for Contemporary Art in Lillehammer (NO). The exhibition will be based on drawings of objects and animals that either speak and don’t. (open from 21. of March, closing 11. of May)

- In the fall of 2025 I’ll have a solo show at SKAL Contemporary in Skagen, Denmark – with animated, singing sculptures and performative actions. (opening aprox. mid-August, closing end of Sept.)

- In autumn 2025 I will participate in a group show at BO in Oslo about language and power dynamics, titled Lorem Ipsum. (opening 8. of August, closing end of Sept.)

- In 2025, I will also produce one new edition of the zine Kiosklitteratur#, and make performative enlivening works in some of Oslo’s public spaces.

CV

CV
Jo Mikkel Sjaastad Huse, (1991, NO)
tel: +47 97733834
e-mail: jomikkel.s.huse@gmail.com
web: https://linktr.ee/jomikkelshuse

EDUCATION
2022 – 2023 Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm (SE) – Post-master, Of Public Interest (OPI)
2017 – 2019 The Academy of Fine Art, Oslo – Master of fine art
2018 (spring) Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm (SE) – Exchange
2015 – 2016 Academy of Arts, Tromsø – Writers study 2. year
2014 – 2017 The Art Academy, Bergen – Bachelor of fine art
2013 – 2014 The University of Oslo, Oslo – Rethorics 1st year
2012 – 2013 Strykejernet, Oslo – preparatory art school
2011 – 2012 Telemark University College, Bø – Writers study

SOLO / COLLABORATIVE
2027 (…) Vandrestaven Udstillingspunkt Oslo (NO) – Rat Resilience. Duo with Sarah Sikorie
2025 (…) SKAL Contemporary, Skagen (DK)
2025 (…) Oplandia (Oppland Kunstsenter), Lillehammer
2024 Färgfabriken Stockholm (SE) PUBLIC RETREAT on fire, with Public Retreat*
2024 Oksasenkatu 11, Helsinki (FI) – PUBLIC RETREAT, with Public Retreat*
2022 - p a l m e r a -, Bergen – Abandoning hope is a violent act.
2021 Galleri Memphis, Oslo – L. Moon – The Secret File
2021 Vandrestaven Udstillingspunkt, Oslo – Profound Statement
2021 Galleri Toll, Stockholm (SE) – L. Moon – The Secret File
2017 Galleri Fisk, Bergen – Keyboard Clean. Collaboration with Eli Mai Huang Nesse
2016 Galleri Bokboden, Bergen – Dog Show
2015 Galleri Skylight, Oslo – postmodern product oriented individualism
2014 Self organized exhibition on facebook event (WWW) – Spaghetti Lifestyle

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2025 (…) BO, Oslo
2025 (…) Vallentuna Kulturhus Stockholm (SE) – curated by Best Before Collective
2023 SPARK, Malmø (SE) – Scores for Malmö, with Public Retreat*
2023 Studio Halv, Oslo – Ominous Lifeforms
2022 Oslo Kunstforening, Oslo – Verden er kald selv om den brenner
2022 Isotop, Bergen – Soundscape for Eli Mai Huang Nesses Shapeshifting
2019 Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo – Oslo Art Academy MFA show
2018 Galleri Q, Copenhagen (DK) – Dreamy Eyes of Wonder
2018 Färingsö Womens Prizon, Stockholm (SE) – organized by Annika Eriksson
2017 The Wrong Biennale, Internet (WWW) – collaboration with Hampus Behm, Helle
Lindskog and Eugene Sundelius von Rosen.
2017 New Contemporary Art Museum, Bergen – Art Academy BFA show
2017 Prøverommet curated by FELT, Bergen – Vernal Equinox
2016+17 Galleri Bokboden, Bergen – Bokboden Sculpture park 2016 & 2017
2015 Edvard Munch Haus, Warnemünde (DE) – By the Way
2015 Rom 8, Bergen – New Artistic Research
2015 Kurant, Tromsø – Letter of intent

SELECTED PERFORMANCES / CONCERTS
2024-25 Platform, Stockholm (SE) – 4 events with Public Retreat*
2024 RadiOrakel, Oslo – 12 soundworks for radio with Public Retreat*
2024 Lähiradio, Helsinki (FI) –soundwork for radio with Public Retreat*
2024 IDA, Helsinki (FI) – soundwork for radio with Public Retreat*
2023 Hjorten Sculpture Park, Stockholm (SE) – Tiny Rock Karaoke!, performance
2023 Radio Sydväst fm 88,9, Stockholm (SE) – Nya Lövholmen Radio, with Public Retreat*
2023 Boksen, Oslo – Vegan Music cassette release, concert with (OoO)*
2022 Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo – Autumn exhibition / Høstutstillingen, performance
2022 Vandaler Forening Winter Solstice, Oslo – concert with (OoO)*
2021 nyMusikk, Periferien Concert Series, Oslo – 5 concerts with (OoO)*
2020 BO, Oslo City #1, Oslo – Animal Sanctuary, concert and video with (OoO)*
2020 Godthaab, Oslo – concert and video as Bergen Art Academy Label (:b
2019 Vandaler Forening Winter Solstice, Oslo – #10, concert and video with Kollege*
2019 Breadbox Contemporary, Oslo – I, SCOOTER, concert with (OoO)*
2019 Technokjeller at Hausmania, Oslo – concert as Bergen Art Academy Label (:b
2018 Vandaler Forening Winter Solstice, Oslo – Artist Talk, concert with (OoO)*
2016 Deichmanske Main Library, Oslo – Selve Tidsspøkelset, performance with Kollege*

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2025 (…) PUBLIC RETREAT Explorer -a newspaper!, Färgfabriken & Platform, Stockholm, with Public Retreat*
2024 (…) Publishing Publishing Nordic, Oslo, Kiosklitteratur #2 (as publisher and editor)
2023 KULTURO #55, København (DK)
2023 NYA LÖVHOLMEN, ett medborgarförslag, Stockholm (SE) – with Public Retreat*
2023 NYA LÖVHOLMEN MAGAZINE #1-4, Stockholm (SE) – with Public Retreat*
2023 Publishing Publishing Nordic, Oslo – Kiosklitteratur#1
2023 Pist Protta 93, Copenhagen (DK) – Carry on…
2022 Elektrokassett, Oslo – Vegan Music with (OoO)*
2022 RE:, Stockholm (SE) – RE:ENCHANTMENT.
2021 Publishing Publishing Nordic, Oslo – L. Moon – The Secret File
2016+17 Narves1biblioteket, Oslo – Mennesker Med Håp For Fremtiden 2–4
2015-18 4 EPs with Bergen Art Academy Label (:b (PLINTH SUBSTITUTE EP ’15, jeg er dum ep ’15, flat årstid EP ’16, Dungeon Presence EP ’18)
2012-19 Kollege #1 – #10, Oslo – with Kollege*

*COLLABORATIONS
2022 - PUBLIC RETREAT, collaboration with Nicole Cecilie Bitsch Pedersen and Johanna Fager.
2018 - (OoO) Object-oriented Ontology, music collaboration with Eirik Abri.
2013 - Forlag Forlag, micro publishing house with Erik Kjos Fonn.
2011 - Kollege, fanzine with Erik Kjos Fonn, Torbjørn P. Larssen and Ole-Petter Arneberg.

GRANTS
2025 Arts Council Norway Art publications and manuscript development
2025 Audiovisual Fund, Arts And Culture Norway Project support visual art
2024 BKV Billedkunstnernes Hjelpefond, one year work grant
2023 + 25 Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA), International Support
2023 Nordic Culture Point, Culture and Art Programme grant
2023 Nordic Culture Fund, project support
2023 Foreningen !Les, Activity funds for library phone booths
2023 Oslo Kommune, Miscellaneous grant
2022 Audiovisual Fund, Arts And Culture Norway, Project support phonogram
2021 Arts Council Norway, Project support for newly established artists
2021+24 BKV Billedkunstnernes Hjelpefond, Project support
2021 Arts Council Norway, Miscellaneous grant
2019 Arts Council Norway, Miscellaneous grant for recently graduated artists