En våtmarkskrønike (A Wetland Chronicle) is a video installation based on a small wetland area consisting of two ponds, a stream and bog, that lay in the immediate vicinity of the exhibition pavilion “Jane”, next to Krutthuset (hps://kosa-oslo.com) in the woods of Oslo. Through a poetic mapping of the wetland, using an underwater camera and hydrophones over several seasons from February to November, an installation was created that could only be viewed from the outside, between dusk and dawn.
The video, which consists of underwater footage, is accompanied by a continuous scrolling text on the floor of the pavilion – like a stream of consciousness – a chronicle which ponders about frog vs bird perspective, military history, rumours, legends, mythology, camera and underwater optics, dragon flies, algae, technology and surveillance. In addition there was a sound composition of recordings of life under water, including movements of the camera, along with excerpts of music from historical underwater films.
This, in many ways modest biotope, reflects large and small narratives; both biological, historical and political processes. The area where the showroom is located has a long history from housing gunpowder production to a military compound, and is today a popular hiking area. The scrolling narrative on floor was based upon information and speculations gathered through dialogues with a biologist, zoologist and a local historian.
Photo © Vera Wyller, courtesy of K.O.S A
Architecture and photo © Vera Wyller, courtesy of K.O.S A
Video still
Architecture and photo © Vera Wyller, courtesy of K.O.S A
Video still
Video still