Sogn Art Center offers guided tours in the exhibition every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1. p.m. until 18 August.
We offer only 20 tickets per tour. You can secure your spot by sending an e-mail to resepsjon.laerdal@villakssenter.no or sign up on the list at reception.
The tour is included in the entrance ticket.
Hans Gjesme: Mad and brilliant? 2024/2025
Is the myth of the mad and brilliant artist true? Perhaps this exhibition can help you decide for yourself?
Visual artist Hans Gjesme (1904-1994) became a paranoid schizophrenic and was forcibly admitted to Gaustad mental hospital in 1955. He lived there until 1971, but did not pause his artistic work – quite the contrary. This exhibition offers insight into Gjesme’s works from this time.
When Gjesme was admitted, it seemingly put an end to a promising artistic career. The often-exhibited painter disappeared from the public eye. However, inside Gaustad in Oslo, the Lærdal artist continued working.
Sogn Art Center is exhibiting close to 100 highlights from the 16 years he spent there. The majority of the images have never before been shown publicly.
Hans Gjesme painted and drew his experiences as a patient. At times he was too psychotic or heavily medicated to work. In better periods, his strong creative urge probably helped make his stay at Gaustad more bearable
Read more about the artist and the exhibition here.