Art Office

The Rotterdam tinted artists' initiative If Paradise Is Half As Nice (IPIHAN) is transforming a former iron mine in Norway into a true art paradise this summer. They do so at the invitation of the Salangen Biennale II, together with seven Scandinavian artists. For five weeks, a total of twelve artists and an art historian will use a derelict iron mine in Salangen as the basis for their artistic research. During an intensive period, in which they eat, sleep and work in the former Kraftstasjon, they make art. They use the building, the surroundings, and even the old mine on top of the mountain as a source of material, inspiration, historical reference and presentation space.

At the end of the five working weeks, the public is welcome for a festive weekend with guided tours, lectures and other events. During the working period, visitors are also welcome in a special IPIHAN exhibition in the museum of Salangen and there are lectures and film evenings. The work period is from June 19 to July 23, 2023. The closing weekend is on July 21, 22 and 23, 2023.

IPIHAN is a project of a permanent group of artists. Every year they exchange their studio for abandoned buildings and areas as locations for artistic production. For example, they previously worked on an abandoned railway yard in Dresden, a concrete slab in Rotterdam and a former department store near Leipzig.

Participating artists
This project, a special form of artist-in-residence, started small-scale and illegally in 2012. It has since grown into an event that attracts a large audience every summer. The Dutch artists of IPIHAN in 2023 are Michiel Jansen, Ties Ten Bosch, Willem Besselink, Pim Palsgraaf, Maurice Bogaert and Esther Kokmeijer. Art historian Guus Vreeburg is involved in the project as a historian. Six Scandinavian artists have been invited for this edition in Norway: Siri Tolander (SE), Jan Hakon Erichsen (NO), Hilde Angel Danielsen (NO), Jens Stegger Ledaal (NO), Lada Suomenrinne (FI), Torbjörn Johansson (SE).

Salangen Biennial 
Salangen Biennale II is a contemporary art exhibition in the ruins of the Salangsverket Cultural Landscape, a hundred-year-old iron mine and factory. These are spread over ten hectares, from a mountain to the coastline of the fjords of Northern Norway. During this second edition of the Salangen Biennale, the artists of IPIHAN act as curators and participants.

Crowdfunding
To make this major project possible, IPIHAN has started a crowdfunding campaign like every year. All donations are welcome. In almost all cases, there is a countermeasure. Read more about the crowdfunding at https://ifparadiseishalfasnice.com

Photo: Ties Ten Bosch, Ruins of the Salangeverket in Salangen, Norway