Ross Kolby

Ross Kolby (born 7 November 1970) is a Norwegian visual artist and author. His paintings are often political and reference classical art, historical events and debate contemporary topics. With the use of both modern and classical symbols as well as symbolic persons Kolby has worked with themes such as racism, the clerical abuse of children in the Catholic Church and the Anders Behring Breivik 2011 Norway Attacks.

Ross Kolby
Born (1970-11-07) 7 November 1970
Baerum, Norway
NationalityNorwegian
OccupationArtist, author
Years active1996 - present
Websitewww.rosskolby.com

Kolby received death threats in 1997 when about to exhibit his historical painting The murder of Pope John Paul I in Oslo and withdrew the painting from the show. He also works extensively with portraits and has among others painted the three generations of Norwegian monarchs involved in the events of WWII and Dame Vera Lynn.

His works are found in the permanent collection of Norway's Crown Regalia Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum, The Norwegian Naval Museum as well as in the Royal Albert Hall. Kolby has also published two novels, a fantasy story about the 12 year old English boy Will O'Phillie and a historical drama from the witch processes in the Northern Norway in the 1600s.

Education

Kolby is educated at Asker kunstfagskole (1991-1992), Oslo National Academy of the Arts (1992–1998) and Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma (1995). He lived and worked in Copenhagen from 1999–2004, but has since then been located in Oslo.

Artwork

In his works Kolby debates themes such as racism, handicapped people’s rights, environmental problems, sexual abuse of children, war and political conflict. He has several times used popes as symbols in his paintings. He has several times used popes as symbols in his paintings. Kolby received death threats when he was about to exhibit his historical motif The murder of Pope John Paul I in 1997 and withdrew the artwork from the show.[1] The canvas was subsequently exhibited the year after. Also in his works dealing with racism and catholic priests' sexual abuse of children Kolby uses a pope as the motif.[2]

In 2013 he produced and appeared in the documentary film And the truth shall make you free about the child abuse in the Catholic Church.[3]

After Anders Behring Breivik’s 2011 Norway attacks in Oslo and at Utoya on 22 July Kolby painted a Yara International bag of artificial fertilizer to debate extremism and the individual’s responsibility of using or abusing available technology.[4]

Harald V of Norway and Kolby at the unveiling ceremony.

In connection with the celebration of 70 years since the liberation from Nazi-Germany’s occupation of Norway, Kolby in 2015 was commissioned to portray Norway’s three generations of monarchs attached to the events of WWII.[5] He painted Harald V, Olav V and Haakon VII in a triple portrait with the title The Kings of the Liberation.[6] The portraits were subsequently unveiled by Harald V at Akershus Fortress and are on permanent display at Norway’s Resistance Museum there.[7][8]

The documentary film The Kings of the Liberation places the portraits in a historic context with the Norwegian Royal Family and their contribution during WWII.[9]

To the celebrations of the 25th year Consecration Jubilee of the reign of Norway's Harald V and Queen Sonja in 2016[10] Kolby was commissioned to artistically commemorate the consecration day in 1991 to the Crown Regalia Museum in Trondheim.[11] He painted the King's and Queen's crowns in a motif with elements symbolizing Norwegian history. The painting was unveiled at a ceremony by the altar in the Nidaros Cathedral and is today on permanent display in the Crown Regalia Museum in the medieval Archbishop's Palace, Trondheim.

In January 2019 the Mid Sussex Times brought the news that Kolby would be portraying Dame Vera Lynn to the Royal Albert Hall in London.[12]

Kolby met with the then 101 year old singer in her home in Ditchling and made studies for the portrait.[13] The painting was unveiled at the Royal Albert Hall in January 2020 and will be on permanent display at the venue.[14]

The documentary film Dame Vera Lynn - The Voice of a Nation premiered at the unveiling ceremony at the Hall and tells the story of 'The Forces' Sweetheart' and Kolby's portrait.[15]

Literary work

Kolby debuted as a published author in 2001 with the fantasy novel Will O'Phillie and the story of Lord Falconbridge on Cappelen Damm.[16][17] The story takes place in England where the 12-year-old Will O'Phillie suddenly brings to life magical powers as he walks in a forest and reads aloud a Shakesperian sonette. This awakens the head of the more than 400 year old Lord Henry Falconbridge who was decapitated in 1622. Together they embark on a journey to fight an attack from dark powers as well as to find Ophelia, the long lost love of Lord Falconbridge. The novel was also published in Danish.[18]

In 2008 Kolby had published the historic novel Flames on Kagge Forlag.[19] The book thematizes the witch processes in Northern Norway in the 17th century.[20][21] The book takes place in Lyngen by Tromso where a love story and drama unfolds around the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV's historic visit at the location in 1599. The novel debates the historic witch processes in Norway as well as today's religious oppression of women. Kolby has also written a screenplay of the story and has worked for an adaption of Flames.

gollark: Does TCMP actually work?
gollark: Apparently that is the proposal, yes.
gollark: It MIGHT be.
gollark: ↑ palaiologos
gollark: https://www.centauri-dreams.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20200521_EinsteinRing_002_0.jpg

References
  1. Gr, Toril; E (1997-11-08). "Trekker bilde fra utstilling". Dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  2. "– Dette er provoserende og støtende for folk | Budstikka". 2015-05-08. Archived from the original on 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  3. And the truth shall make you free [HQ], retrieved 2020-01-18
  4. Tjellaug, Ane Bamle (2012-09-12). "Malte gjødselsekk og ikke våpen". Varden (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  5. Veka, Camilla; Grønneberg, ers (2015-03-26). "Tre nye kongeportretter er avduket". Dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  6. "Kongemåleri avduka". www.kongehuset.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  7. Craig, Elin Reffhaug (2015-03-26). "Her avduker kong Harald portrettet av seg selv". www.budstikka.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  8. "Portretter av «Frigjøringskongene» / Hjemmefrontmuseet / Forsvarets museer - Website Interface". forsvaretsmuseer.no. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  9. FILM NORWAY, HACIENDA (2015-06-17), The kings of the liberation, retrieved 2020-01-18
  10. "Revisiting the consecration ceremony". www.royalcourt.no. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  11. Kristiansen, Kai (2016-11-09). "Dette kongelige maleriet ble avduket i Nidarosdomen i dag". adressa.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  12. "Dame Vera Lynn portrait to hang on display at Royal Albert Hall". www.midsussextimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  13. https://www.nrk.no/kultur/norsk-kunstner-maler-vera-lynn-i-all-hemmelighet-1.14366925
  14. "Dame Vera Lynn portrait goes on display at the Royal Albert Hall". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  15. https://vimeo.com/383528719/8de618a8b9
  16. Sentrum, Cappelendamm | Postadresse: Postboks 1900; informasjonskapsler, 0055 Oslo | Besøksadresse: Akersgata 47/49 | Telefon sentralbord: 21 61 65 00 © Cappelen Damm AS | Rettigheter og lover | Personvern og. "Ross Kolby". www.cappelendamm.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  17. "Will O'Phillie og Lord Falconbridges historie av Ross Kolby". bokelskere.no. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  18. "Ross Kolby". www.gyldendal.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  19. KAGGE. "Flammer". www.kagge.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  20. https://www.nordlys.no/bok/en-virkelig-grusom-historie/r/1-79-3847317
  21. "Flammer av Ross Kolby". bokelskere.no. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
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