Victor Lind Receives This Year’s Honorary Award

Political Responsibility in Art

As an active artist from the 1960s to present day, Victor Lind has helped shape the Norwegian art scene. The board of Oslo Open places particular emphasis on Lind’s role in the debate regarding the National Museum’s presentation of the work Mourning Carpet by artist Noa Eshkol. Lind argues that the work conveys Israel’s official narrative of the occupation of Palestine, and that the context in which it is shown leads the museum to contribute to legitimizing genocide. It takes courage for an artist to stand up to a large national art institution, and the award recognizes Lind’s consistent persistence to holding institutions accountable. Lind has been a central figure in the Norwegian art scene, from the radical GRAS group in the 1970s to his extensive project Contemporary Memory, which documents the deportation of Norwegian Jews during the Second World War. The jury believes that Lind’s ability to connect artistic practice to political resistance makes him a unique and invaluable voice in today’s cultural landscape.

In an excerpt from the honorary award speech, delivered by Chair Sarah Kazmi, this is elaborated:
“The Oslo Open Honorary Award recognises people and organizations who make conditions better for artists—not only in practical terms such as studios and production, but also by shaping the ethical and political framework in which art exists. Victor Lind realises this aim in a profound way. From his early involvement in the GRAS collective, where artists organised to hold institutions and politicians accountable, to his long‑term engagement with historical memory and contemporary injustice, he has continually expanded the space for artists to speak out, to organise, and to take a stand. His recent interventions are not a rupture with his earlier work, but a continuation of it: a defence of the ethical integrity of art as a working condition in its own right.”

This year’s award sculpture is made by artist Sigrid Espelien, commissioned by last year’s award recipient, ROM, a space dedicated to the intersection of the fields of art, architecture, placemaking, and public space. The award consists of a brick and two cups made from blue clay sourced from Alnabru, Økern, and Sagene—materials the artist has personally collected. By working with blue clay from specific locations, she explores the relationship between landscape, material, and human presence. In Espelien’s practice, the notion of clay as a universal and stable material is challenged by highlighting the site-specific and changeable qualities of clay found in nature.

About the Oslo Open Honorary Award

The award honors those who contribute to improving artists’ working conditions—studio space, production, and overall labor conditions. This includes not only the physical conditions but also the ethical and political frameworks that artists find themselves in. The award may be given to an individual, group, or organization. The award is granted at the discretion of the board and was first presented in 2019.

In 2025, the award went to Gjertrud Steinsvåg and ROM for their long-term, strategic, and holistic work on accessibility and inclusion within art and architecture. In 2024, the award was presented to Fellesverkstedet, an artist-run workspace with facilities and experienced advisors who assist both artists and others in everything from wood, metal, and screen printing to 3D printing, for their substantial contribution to making the artistic profession more accessible.