PERFORMANCERita Marhaug’s performance praxis started last half of the -90ies. Educated from Norwegian art schools during the -80ies her medium till this point was focused on the two dimensional image: mainly drawing and printmaking.
Wanting to visually explore femininity and masculinity, performance became first choice accompanied with photo and video. Her early performance work had emphasis on the female artist putting into play concepts like “strength” and “aggression”. Important works from this period is Action, Knock Out, Small Mann, For a longer period she has worked with the series Norwegian Liquid investigating the (female) body and its relationship to national wealth and the fluids that drive the Norwegian economy. This is still an ongoing chapter. Her resent works are more into the realm of surrealism with wider use of costumes and props. The changeable reality of the body(image), revealing and concealing, masking and de-masking have been the core of interest. Throughout her performance praxis artistic cooperation has been important. Her artistic partners have been Ingunn Wright, Traci Kelly, Benedicte Clementsen, Karen Kipphoff, Gillian Carson, Robert Alda and Anette Friedrich Johannessen. Image from CREPUSCULAR with Benedicte Leinan Clementsen May-13 Photo Bjarte Bjørkum |
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THE MIDNIGHTSUNSCREAM FESTIVAL
Kvalnes, Vestvågøy Lofoten 5th of August 2023 Initiator, organizor and curator: Kjetil Ingvar Berge “Under certain circumstances failing, losing, forgetting, unmaking, undoing, unbecoming, not knowing may in fact offer more creative, more creative, more cooperative, more surprising ways of being in the world.” J Halberstam, The Queer Art of Failure. It seems frightening to be clueless - with a fear of getting lost and without a thread that leads out of the labyrinth, but not knowing is crucial for making or creating. Nothing new will ever happen if you don't leave the track you are on, especially when you know that there aren’t enough resources to continue where you are, and you don't quite know where you are going. The invisible threads of social bonds and the internet with all the joys and derailments it creates seems to make it more complicated to create a new path. Marhaug's contribution to the event: The Donor (of Life and Death), 15 min performance Photos: Vebjørg Hagene Thoe (left column), Ole John Aandal (right column) 
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“Stories. The world is more complicated than our truths about it”
is an interdisciplinary artistic and educational project in the field of contemporary visual arts (including performing arts) carried out by the Mazovian Museum in Płock, Poland, in partnership with Kunstbanken Center for Contemporary Art in Hamar, Norway. The project results from both the programme policy of the Mazovian Museum, whose Themerson Gallery opened in 2021, and the universality of the Themersons’ thought and artistic output in the context of contemporary art. About The Donor (of Life and Death) Core themes in Rita Marhaug's artistic production has varied over the decades. The many aspects of sensing, beauty and decay, life and death, -are strands in her resent practice, often linked to current ethical dilemmas. She often do collaborations with artist colleagues and has been involved with several artists run organizations over years. Paradoxes unite and divide at the same time, it tears us, but the term as such also forms a separate space for the opposites that cannot be reconciled. Marhaug believes that art can also create such spaces that maintain contradictions and show them off. A non-verbal language such as the visual and material may appeal more strongly to our emotions and immediate reactions. In the reflection of an art experience, our conceptual apparatus is activated, and emotional reactions can receive a deeper analysis or expanded understanding. She perceives paradoxes and contradictions as basic elements in our existence where life and death, light and darkness, sorrow and joy are archetypes. She thinks of the gap or tension between the opposites as a possible source for understanding the extremes. As an artist, to dwell in the shades or jump between the contrasts is a choice linked to the effect you seek. The milk is white and the blood is red. Marhaug’s choices relate to both visual, tactile and conceptual assessments. She often takes her own body dimensions as a starting point, such as height, weight, bone mass, blood volume and the like. Identification for other people should be close. By using a charged natural objects like leather, fur, wood, milk and blood in her art, a number of layers of meaning automatically arise: -some she is aware of, others unknown to her! ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE My starting point is again the life giving liquid, milk and blood, as well as the ancient Minoan goddess of snakes. This said the performance itself will not have a snakes or blood included, but the remains, -the symmetry of the figure, her waist, her dress and tall hat is a clear reference, also the natural materials I am using, like leather, fur, felt and wood. Duration about 20 min. Curators of the “Tales” project: Małgorzata Sady and Ingrid Blekastad Partner: Kunstbanken Hamar Photos: Tomasz Topczewski 
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THE BARREL
Performance at Kabuso 22nd of April 2023 Ending the exhibition "Røynd og kjensle" with Terese Longva. Duration 15 min An important theme in Marhaug's long artist career is our carbon-driven economy. She seeks to give the inscription of our bodies into this carbon game poetic, visual expressions in the form of performance, pictures, video, artist's books and installations. NORWEGIAN LIQUID is the overall title of the series of works started in 2009. In Norwegian Liquid, the artist uses her body to express her ambivalence and dissonance in depictions of power and powerlessness. Norway stands out as a country of untouched nature. At the same time, we are the seventh largestexporter of petroleum in the world. The individual finds herself in the gap between traditional frugality with roots in rural Norway and the borderless international post-industrial infotainment society. Marhaug’s intension is to show how the individual body is woven into the global economy driven by carbon burning. A maximum contrast, both visually and linguistically, can be found between black and white. The skin is the interface between the individual and the world, culture and nature, the black crude oil and the white coral beach. Ownership to the natural resourses of the nation and the local commueties has during the laste decades had a growing focus. This applies to everything from the fish in the sea to the wind over the plains, the ore in the mountains and the oil in the seabed. The energy crisis of the past year is the closest complex that points to the many layers of power and powerlessness linked to a common good. Photos: Petter Lønningen 
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SOFT LIFE 3 performaces during the exhibition Hard Work Soft Life at Studio K 4-6th of December 2020. Duration of each about 20 min. Photo: Rita Marhaug and Kari Ann Lending 
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WAVELENGTH
Edited version of LIVE ART streaming Episode #4 THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 st, 2020. Theme Falling together, Live duration one hour This is an experimental Covid - 19 Art Stunt initiated by Visual Artist Torild Stray, together with Performance Artist Anette Friedrich Johannessen and Noisemaker čirnū, Ivan Andre Paulsen we formed the artist group WAVELENGTH. We are proud to present guest Performers: Elisabeth Moberg and Amelia Norin (Vocals), Ida Nerbø (Soundscape), Rita Marhaug (Performance), Solvor Holan (Visual artist). Live Camera by Enara Barnés The events are supported by Bergen Municipality Art & Culture. Bergen Kommune Kunst & Kultur https://vimeo.com/483805654?ref=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR2gjQyI6avyOL4LKa0eE-tQ6TTYSgKdt7G7Zdvds3yUmuVLet9k9m2tG_0 Photos: Roy |
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NATTSVERMEREFFEKTEN
(The Moth Effect) Duration 15 min Materials and props: A mink fur globe, a wool-one-piece, a glittering pair of very high heals, leather mask, willowherbs and landscape. Performed at Midnightsunscream 2020: "Alt fast smeltar" (all that is solid melts into air) at Kvalnes, Lofoten Curator: Kjetil Berge Photos: Emilie Marhaug 
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SPRING EQUINOX 20th of March, a Day of Public Action: for Freedom and Democracy! Trying out the building kit in the times of Corona: Building the future Duration 30 min. Photo: Mari Norddahl 
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PERSONAS, part of the exhibition series Vitrinas Atelier Fernanda Chieco, Stølegaten 17, Bergen Solo show initiated and curated by Fernanda Chieco 7th and 8th of March 2020 Duration 29 hours The small room and its windows was a place for the (random) viewer, to watch the artistic process unfold and develop for two days. During the period Marhaug arranged and rearranged objects and props in the space as a performative action. The general theme could be understood as masking and demasking, something that fitted well with the situation of the audience, people looking into this semi-private space: an invitation to watch, but not to be included/let in. Louise Bourgeois and her works is a solid source of inspiration, from both a material as well as thematic point of view. Sunday 8th of Mars Pavana Reid joined for a co-performance on the street! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHiWLAMksWg&feature=youtu.be Photos: Fernanda Chieco 
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HOUR
Participating in Bergen International Performance Festival (BIPF) 28-29th of February 2020 24 performers at Kunstgarasjen Duration of my part: 23 hours Curator: Pavana Reid Organizor: PAB Pavana Reid Marit T. Dyre, Gillian Carson ALL ARTISTS: Alastair Maclennan UK Ana Matey ES Andriy Helytovych UA Béatrice Didier BE Chomphunut Phuttha TH Gustaf Broms SE Ingeborg Blom Andersskog NO/SE Ivonne Navas Dominguez CO/MX Jan-Egil Finne NO John Court UK/FIN Mads Floor Andersen DK Manuel Lopez ES Marilyn Arsem US Marta Bosowska PL Niamh Seana Meehan IE Nieves Correa ES Olga Prokhorova RU/FIN Rita Marhaug NO Sajan Mani IN/DE Sandrine Schaefer US Sinead O’Donnell IE Tanya Mars CA Thomas Reul DE Thomas Wells UK https://www.performanceartbergen.no/nb/program-overview/hour-bergen-international-performance-festival-bibf-kunstgarasjen-28-th-feb-1-mar-2020/ Photos: Jordan Hutchings Raina Vlaskovska 
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OPEAN 11: IN PERSONAS
Friday 7th of February 2020. Duration of performance: 20 min OPEAN is a performance and concert series which has the topic of Europe. The evenings are like this: first there is a performance event in one space with two different artists. After the performances a concert takes place in the space next to it. Second performer for the evening; Antoni Karwowski from Poland Organizer: CLUBZWEI EINSTEIN KULTUR , MÜNCHEN Einsteinstr. 42 Curator; Patrick Morarescu Photo: Patrick Morarescu https://thomasbohnet.net/project/opean-11/ 
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OPEN SESSION: DRAW
PAB OS and Bergen Akt and Croquis (BAC) invited everyone to Herdla museum for a two hour open session Sunday 27th of October. OS: DRAW investigated how performance can be viewed and captured through drawing. Museum visitors were welcome to participate, either as an audience or as a performer. Photos: Petter Lønningen https://www.facebook.com/events/414836476105085/ 
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NIAN: NORDIC ISLANDS ACTION IN NATURE
Organizer: ComLab Curator: Chuyia Chia A week with performance in public spaces: city scapes; parks, landscapes. Giving a presentation at Kunstepedemien and a two days workshop. Performing Personas at Gøtaplassen for 3 hours Friday 20th of October Performing Think like a rock, feel like a tree, Sunday 22nd of October and Thursday 26th of October. Workshop Human time, nature time, Monday and Tuesday from 11-17 o'clock Photos: Peter Rosvik, Chuyia Chia, Alex https://comlabsweden.wordpress.com/nordic-islands-action-in-nature-2018/nordic-islands-action-in-nature-autumn-in-gothenburg/nian-2018-documentations-exhibition/ 
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IT'S PERSONAL
At Hamlagrø 2-5th of September -18 with seven colleagues asthe 3rd part of the project It's Personal initiated by Pavana Reid in 2016: Is an performance art project which bring together eight artists form Thailand and Norway to collaborate focusing on subjects of personal issues and identity by using performance art as a platform. Associated with art the right to freedom of expression is essential, for the artists in the group the national frameworks are somewhat different. The subject of censorship and self-censorship, human rights and feminism, environmental engagement and social involvement are areas closely linked to the individual artist occupation. THE PARTICIPATING ARTIST: Pavana Reid, Pattree Chimnok, Terese Longva, Nopwan Sirivejkul, Rita Marhaug, Jittima Pholsawek, Sareena Sattapon and Marit Tunestveit Dyre. Part 1 of the project took place in Thailand in 2016. The journey brought the artists to popular tourist area, rural areas in Northeast and to the very North, ending up in Bangkok. The artists worked with a community art project, held talks, created site specific performance/photography work, conducted solo and a group performance. Part 2 took place in 2017 at Skuløy/Longva and in Ålesund. At Skuløy/Longva the artists created site specific performance/photography work, arranged a culture night titled; Thai & talk and held solo performance at Jugendstil senteret in Ålesund. Photo: Sareena Sattapon 
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NÆRMERE
NÆRMERE (Closer), was developed in collaboration and performed together with colleg Gillian Carson, Saturday 21st of April -18. at C. Sundsts gate 55, Bergen during B-Open. The work was a comission from the board of CS 55. Duration 2,5 hours Audience could walk in and out of the scene as they prefered Photos: Karen Kipphoff 
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IN PERSONAS
During (STATE OF) WAKE festival, Folkestone 8-10the of Sept. 2017 Text by Professor Jennie Klein: tohttps://statesofwake.tumblr.com/post/165485225941/dedicated-to-appalling-manners edit. Duration 30 min. Photo: Andrea Abbatangelo |
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TESTS TO THE NORTH
Performance with dogs. Lofoten 2017 Thanks to Sofie, Chibs and Chumly Photos by Emilie Marhaug 
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ART HAS TO BE FOOLISH, ARTIST HAS TO BE FOOLISH
Invited by Venice Live 2017 and curator Jonas Stampe, Marhaug performed Thursday 11th and Friday 12th May 2017, in Venice. The performances took place close to The Giardini, next to the Biennale vaporetto stop at the seafront. Duration for both acts where about 15 min. Photo: Pavana Reid 
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IN PERSONAS
Part of It's Personal, durational improvisation with artists from Norway and Thailand at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Thailand, 22nd of December 2017. Participating colleges: Pattree Chimnok Marit Tunestveit Dyre Terese Longva Jittima Polsawek Pavana Reid Sareena Sattapon Nopawan Sirivejkul Duration: 4 hours Photo: Wichai Juntavaro 
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TERRETORIAL
Participant in Giswil performanceart festival in Switzerland, 7-12th of September 2016 Duration 20 min |
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WOMAN 51
Participating during Beautiful Lies, performance Event in Oronsko, Poland 14th of June 2016 Curator: Eulalia Domanowska |
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KJERRINGØY LAND ART BIENNALE June 2015 Duration 15. min Duo work with Traci Kelly Woodland Gesture for Livestock (Gester fra skogholtet til flokken) https://kunstkultursenteret.no/ressursbase/kunst-i-natur/ 
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PHOENIX from Chapter 3: Mandarin Dust
Collaboration with Traci Kelly Performed at the Birtish Ceremics Biennial (BCB) 17th of October 2013 Duration 12 min Photo: Richard Launder 
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BERGEN EXERCISES
Part of PAB in Kalfarlien 18, 5th of October -13. Collaboration with colleges Robert Alda, Gillian Carson, Karen Kipphoff. ( dolls by Kipphoff, lipstick marks by Carson) Performance improvisation in two parts. Duration part 1, 60 min Duration part 2, 70 min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9jBftQknDQ Photo Bjarte Bjørkum 
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BERLIN EXERCISES
Uferstudios, Studio 1, Berlin. 13th and 14th of September-13. From the series of exhibitions and performances Dialogues with Reality Collaboration with colleges Robert Alda, Gillian Carson, Karen Kipphoff. Duration 40 min Photo Christopher Hewitt 
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PLAY OF ELEMENTS
Marhaug took part in CONTEXT Festival of Ephemeral Art in the village Sokolovsko in Poland, July 2013. Her contribution was the performance Play of Elements Props: Fur coat, high heeled shoes, four blue baloons filled with helium in the pond, pair of scissors, 2 wigs, white robe, black robe and fire. Duration 15 min. Curator Malgorzata Sady http://thecontexts.pl/pl/thecontexts-2013 Photo: Marcin Polak and Rita Marhaug 
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CREPUSCULAR
A performance concept develloped in collaboration with Benedicte Leinan Clementsen. First performed in Warszawa May 2013 during Beautiful Lies, arranged in the Garden of the University Library. Duration 20 min. The theme for the performance event was light and shining. Beautiful Lies was also part of Museum Night in Warszwa, 18th of May. The word crepuscular is derived from the Latin crepusculum, meaning "twilight". Its sense accordingly differs from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, which respectively peak during hours of daylight and dark. The distinction is not absolute however, because crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright moonlit night or on a dull day. The use of the terms often is vague; for example, some animals that are casually described as nocturnal are in fact crepuscular. Organizer Gallery XX1, curator Eulalia Domanowska 7th of September Crepuscular was modefied for a prison cell, 3,5 x 4,5 meters, in former Bergen kretsfengsel as part of the weekend program PAB Open- In adition to the two mink fur coats the whole floor was covered by a pink foam mattress. Duration 2 x 2 hours Initiated and organized by Performance Art Bergen Studio photo: Bjarte Bjørkum 
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CREPUSCULAR
A performance concept develloped in collaboration with Benedicte Leinan Clementsen. First performed in Warszawa May 2013 during Beautiful Lies, arranged in the Garden of the University Library. Duration 20 min. 
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NORWEGIAN LIQUID
Marhaug participated in the festival La Muga Caula, a village north of Barcelona near the border of France, September 2012. During three days she showed three different performance works under the headline of Norwegian Liquid. Duration: 1 min 10 min 2 hours Situated in and around the remote, beautiful village of La Muga Caula the artists found space for their individual contributions. Earlier the same summer a huge fire threatended the village leaving the woods around damaged. In this almost dead enviroment Marhaug's last work took place. Curator Joan Casellas Photo Rita Rodrigues 
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NORWEGIAN LIQUID, CHINESE STYLE
In August and September 2012 Marhaug participated in two performance art festivasl in Beijing, China; Beijing Live 2012: Love and Pain at Flower Art Center and Beijing Open at Factory Gallery She produced 3 new works during her stay under the headline of Norwegian Liquid. The images shows the performance for Beijing Open at Factory Space, District 798. Duration 20 min. Curator Jin Chen (Open Festival) Curator He Chengyao (Beijing Live) Photo Nisa Ojalvo 
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NORWEGIAN LIQUID
Vestvågøy, Lofoten July 2012 Photo: Emilie Marhaug 
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NORWEGIAN LIQUID
Gimsøy, Lofoten August 2011 Photo: Emilie Marhaug 
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PULSE
Part of Beautiful Lies arranged in the Garden of the University Library in Warszawa May 2012. Duration 20 min. Beautiful Lies was also part of Museum Night in Warszwa, 17th of May. Organized by Gallery XX1,curator Eulalia Domanowska 
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60 KG
Part of Art Swap arranged by AktB in collaboration with Bbeyond from Belfast and Bergen Art Museum. Showed the 31st of October 2010 at Bergen Art Museum. 4 artists from Bergen and for artists from Belfast showing performances. Duration 5 hours, (during whole day). 60 kg Norwegian one kroner coins (similar to the artist's body weight) were placed in a circle on the floor of the museum entrance. Circle diameter was 155cm, (artist's body length). During the opening time, the coins were stacked in columns into a small tower. At the end of performance, the structure collapsed. Photo Bjarte Bjørkum 
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BBEYOND
A two day performance event in Belfast, October 14th and 15th, 2010 Marhaug contributed with a twin work from the series Norwegian Liquid. Day one duration 3 hours. Day two duration 3 hours. Organized by Bbeyond, performance artist organization in Belfast Curator Brian Connolly 
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NORWEGIAN LIQUID
Performance in Sete, France during performance festival Infr'Action 9 September 2010 5 liters of crude oil seeping out of the body and runs down the stairs of the theater building in the town of Sete. Duration 4 hours http://www.infraction.info/en/index.html Photo: Nisa Ojalvo 
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INNER DIALOGUE WITH YKB
Performance for camera made into video. First showed at Vestlandsutstillingen 2006 2005 Photo: Emilie Marhaug 
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13+35
Opening performance at the project gallery Døgnfluen 28th of April 2000 DØGNFLUEN or the Mayfly was an artspace for temporary art in Bergen, Norway. It was situated in a private apartment in Nygaardsgaten 70 A , 3th floor. During the period from 28th of April to 2nd of June 2000, Døgnfluen showed happenings, performances and stunts every friday. Curators: Veronica Diesen, Arne M. Rygg and Morten Kvamme. http://www.virkeligheten.no/dognfluen/ Photo: Bjarte Bjørkum 
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GREEK TRAGEDY
Along with colleague Ingunn Wright Rita Marhaug went to Greece in March 2000 to work with site-specific performance improvisations. For seven years Marhaug and Wright collaborated on the duo format Scylla & Carybdis. Skylla & Carybdis worked in the old site of Olympia for one week and ended their stay at Cape Sounion south of Athens, were the temple of Poseidon is situated. During these last days in Greece they stayed at (old) Hotel Sounion, a hotel build in the early 60ties. Out of tourist season, being the only guests at the big hotel, the mood of the situation resulted in a series of photoes and a video with tittle Greek Tragedy. Photo and video assistant in Greece, Agnes Nedregard 
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