Kjartan Abel’s art inhabits the paradoxical space between the logical and illogical, order and chaos. His conceptual installations fuse everyday objects with cutting-edge technology to create experiences that challenge perceptions of time, identity, and reality. In “The Longest Circuit,” a simple light switch triggers an electrical signal that journeys across the internet to illuminate a lightbulb on the opposite side of the globe. This blend of mundane materials and digital networks compresses vast distances into an instant. Meanwhile, “Waiting Room” immerses visitors in a familiar yet uncanny setting where they encounter their future selves through notes and receipts, contemplating life’s choices and randomness. Abel’s artistry lies in using commonplace items to unlock existential questions.
Bridging art and technology through audiovisual experiences
Abel’s audiovisual works demonstrate a similar mastery of juxtaposition. His animated videos inspired by Bosch and dystopian audio fiction meld advanced AI image generation with evocative soundscapes. He probingly employs the technology itself to comment on its potential and limits. In the interactive web project “Zero One,” Abel created an ecosystem tracking a hamster’s every motion, raising disquieting issues of observation and freedom. Here, his integration of the digital and natural worlds highlights dilemmas of an increasingly monitored society.
Whether using cassette tapes or machine learning algorithms, Kjartan Abel fuses media to forge realms where technology, imagination and philosophy intersect. His innovative artistry stems from a deep engagement with today’s most complex questions. How does humanity maintain its essence in an artificial intelligence-driven future? Can emerging technologies empower creativity instead of supplanting it? Abel’s work does more than just probe these dilemmas–it pushes us to participate in them. His conceptual ecosystems draw viewers into becoming part of the art itself. In doing so, he ruptures assumed boundaries between the human and technological.
Integrating technology in professional practice
In addition to his artistic practice, Abel brings his transdisciplinary approach to his professional work. As a Digital Transformation Consultant at Østfoldmuseene since 2016, he help the museum sector adopt new technologies to drive growth and efficiency. Abel also served as Digital Consultant for Norway’s Public Art Council from 2010 to 2016, leveraging his expertise in collection management systems. His background encompasses web development, photography, sound engineering and more.
Abel also has years of experience in radio, broadcast, and multimedia. He worked as a sound engineer and audio assistant at NRK-TV and Radio Oslofjord in the early 1990s. Later, he served as a multimedia developer at Radio Tango and webmaster for online magazine Herresalongen.no. Ultimately, Kjartan Abel fluidly moves between the roles of artist, consultant and specialist, united by a commitment to imagination.
Work experience
2016 – d.d. Østfoldmuseene
Digital Transformation Consultant, Editor and Exhibition Consultant.
2010 – 2016 Public Art Norway (KORO)
Digital Consultant and Superadmin for Primus (a collection management tool for museums).
2004 – 2007 Freelance photographer
Photographer for Bonnier Media magazine Max Power and Woman.
2002 – d.d. Idéfarmen
Mid-stack WordPress, HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL freelancer.
2002 – 2006 Herresalongen.no
Webmaster for online Lifestyle magazine.
2002 – 2003 FAST Search & Transfer ASA
Webmaster.
2000 – 2001 Radio Tango
Multimedia developer.
1998 – 1999 Nordialog
Sales assistant and technician.
1992 – 1994 NRK-TV
Sound assistant.
1991 – 1992 Radio Oslofjord
Sound assistant.
Education
2007 – 2009 Slade School of Fine Art, University College London
MFA in Fine Art New Media.
2005 – 2007 Kingston University, BA(Hons) Fine Art
First Class (A) Hons.
2003 – 2005 Strykejernet Art school
Audio engineering and music theory course.
1995 – 1997 Norsk Lydskole
Two year Foundation course.
Exhibitions
2009 Graduate Degree show
Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK
2009 Research Images As Art 2009
UCL(University College London), London, UK
2009 Nothing but the voice
Woburn Square Studios, London, UK
2008 Notation
Woburn Square Studios, London, UK
2008 The Body Project
Woburn Square Studios, London, UK
2008 Curated the exhibition “Demoscene”
Galleri brenneriet, Oslo, Norway
2008 COSM, UCL Observatory
University College London, London, UK
2008 Kunstvlaai A.P.I,
Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2008 Norskart
Menier Chocolate Factory, London, UK
2007 Existential Computing
Hayward Gallery, London, UK
2007 LollipopManBlues
Nolias gallery, London, UK
2005 Homeless
Waterloo Underpass, London, UK
2005 Utdanningsmessen
Norges Varemesse, Lillestrøm, Norway
2004 Group Show
Smuget, Oslo, Norway
Lectures/Talks
2009 Introduction to Content Management Systems
The Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK
2008 Introduction to Demoscene
Galleri Brenneriet, Oslo, Norway
2008 Interactive Art
Galleri Brenneriet, Oslo, Norway
2008 Workshop on Interactive Art
Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK
Awards
2009 The Julian Sullivan Award
2005 Strykejernet Kunstskole Scholarship
Residencies
2009 Utopia project, ASFA in Rethymnon, Crete
2008 Residency through the LITTORAL trust at Kurt Schwitters Merzbau site, Cylinders Merzbau, Ambleside, UK
Publications
2009 Landing Space