Take a look at this striking building in front of you-it doesn’t look like a typical old art museum, does it? That’s because you’re actually standing outside what used to be a city fire station! Once upon a time, this was a place where Trondheim’s bravest raced out to sirens, axes in hand, ready to save the day. Now, instead of fire trucks, it’s bursting with art that’s a little more “smoke and mirrors”-welcome to Kunsthall Trondheim, the city’s vibrant home for contemporary art.
Now, imagine the year 2016: the echo of boots and the shimmer of firehoses have faded, and instead, a buzz grows in the old engine bay. Art lovers, curious minds, and locals stroll in, greeting a fresh institution on the Trondheim scene. From the get-go, Kunsthall was on fire-artistically, of course-quickly becoming the hotspot for bold exhibitions and thought-provoking programs.
But even before this grand opening, things were heating up next door. From 2013 to 2016, Kunsthall Trondheim operated as a pop-up of sorts, housed in a temporary space led by Helena Holmberg. It was the city’s little art engine that could-and did-with edgy shows and eclectic artist line-ups, all while dreaming of a permanent home. Finally, in October 2016, the art hall found its forever place right here, in this repurposed firehall, and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to swap water hoses for paintbrushes?
Over the years, the directorship baton has passed hands with all the drama of a well-staged performance. Stefanie Hessler took charge in 2019 and led the charge until 2022, ushering in exhibitions that pushed boundaries and sometimes, buttons. And from 2023 onwards, Adam Kleinman grabbed the director’s hat, promising even more surprises. Word is, he doesn’t make the staff do fire drills, but perhaps the occasional flash mob of artists wouldn’t be out of place.
So, what’s been burning bright inside? Step through these glass doors (well, mentally-don’t worry, I won’t set off any alarms) and you’d encounter art that dances across genres, moods, and entire continents. Imagine the year 2013: a show by Tomislav Gotovac, “Straight Line (Stevens-Duke),” mingled with Lotta Lotass and Peter Thörneby probing the night sky. The same year saw a “Self Fashion Show” by Tibor Hajas-nobody walked the runway, but ideas certainly strutted with style. By 2014, an artist named Dan Perjovschi scribbled “Freedom of Expression” straight onto the walls, the paint barely dry before fresh ideas swept in with “Present Stability” and “Water Divide”.
Kunsthall Trondheim isn’t afraid to ask weird questions. In 2015’s “Objects That Don’t Fit Together, Words That Suddenly Change Meaning,” the walls practically whispered secrets to each other. And when they decided to host a satellite venue for the Kyiv Biennale, the place hummed with international energy. Jump ahead to 2016 and A K Dolven’s exhibition, “this is a political (painting),” proved that the only thing more combustible than an oil painting is an idea with a message.
Every year, the old fire station turns into a crossroads of creativity: “Notes From Underground,” “A New We”-these aren’t just funky names, they’re invitations to peer into new worlds. A personal favorite? In 2020, “Who Wants to Live Forever?” brought together artists like Oreet Ashery and Tabita Rezaire, and I’m pretty sure some visitors stayed so long they nearly tested the title themselves.
But the real mystery isn’t just what hangs on the walls; it’s what happens between the people who pass through these doors. Artists and thinkers from all over the globe, from Norway to Nigeria, have left their mark here. Visitors sometimes bump into live performances, stumble upon artist talks, or find themselves weeping, laughing, or scratching their heads in bemusement-which, let’s face it, is the true mark of contemporary art.
So while the walls still echo with shouts and alarms from days gone by, nowadays the only thing lighting up this hall is inspiration. Keep your eyes peeled-there might be a fire of imagination burning inside, and you never know when you’ll become a part of Kunsthall Trondheim’s ever-unfolding story. And if you ever smell smoke? Don’t worry, it’s probably just the next big idea catching flame.
