When Inger-Reidun Olsen (iRo) started on her master studies at the Norwegian Theatre Academy she had already worked as a freelance choreographer, dancer and performance artist since 1998.
Why did you apply for a place of study at NTA?
- I wanted to deepen and explore my artistic practice within the framework of artistic research, and develop my relationship to and knowledge within performance theory and challenge my critical thinking. And to reflect more deeply about my work in a social, political and artistic contexts. I thought NTA would be the perfect place to do that, with access to an extended network, new knowledge and methods.
“NTA is a welcoming, inspiring and vivid professional environment to study in, where you become part of an international network of artists.”
Inger-Reidun Olsen (iRo), former MA performance student about her time at NTA
You graduated Spring 2020 - looking back now, what was it like being a master student at NTA?
- For me, studying at NTA was a good experience. It was exciting to be challenged and to explore my artistic work in such a supportive and vivid environment. The program gave me what I was hoping for and much more, and I feel grateful for the personal and artistic development it has given me.
How did the master program inspire you as an artist?
- It was inspiring for me to witness the artistic process of my co-students and to get an insight in their art practice and making. How they were working in different ways has given me an extended insight into my own work. The MA program have informed and widen my reflections about the values my work is based on, and has extended my awareness and helped me to clarify and acknowledge what I see as valuable in my work. This has raised deepend questions about relations between ethics and aesthetics in my work, and has influenced my reflections and ideas about how I would like to make artistic choice in relation to that in the future.
According to the former NTA-student, the MA Performance program has inspired her to write more and to trust her own way of thinking and reflecting.
- It has inspired me to ask questions more deeply and take more time to explore answering them. It has given me tools to write and talk about my work more explicitly, and it has deepened my curiosity within performance, Inger-Reidunn says.
“In which way would the presence of the clay affect my breath, my movements, my thoughts and ideas about myself and the different stages of performance making?”
Inger-Reidun Olsen (iRo) about her research in connection with her master project
Why would you recommend others to apply for this study program?
- The program supports your artistic visions and ideas and challenges them in a deep way. It is a welcoming, inspiring and vivid professional environment to study in, where you will be part of an international network of artists.
Can you briefly describe your final master project at NTA?
- I was exploring clay as a performative material in relationship to my body and did my research at two different specific places; indoors at NTA and outdoors at the source of the clay. My research was based in the idea of clay being an equal "collaborator" in performance. I questioned what would happen if I listened to the clay, and myself in relationship to it and was curious about how ‘the listening to the clay practice’ would inform and shape my artistic choices.
In which way would the presence of the clay affect my breath, my movements, my thoughts and ideas about myself and the different stages of performance making. I practiced embracing what happened without judging the outcome and was trying my best to be true to the process and allowing myself to be guided by the affect caused by the clay. I was curious about how and if this way of relating to non-human material would change my ideas about my performance making and my relationship with nature. I was interested in exploring the potential of reaching new knowledge and ethics within performance making and beyond, through this work.
The research that I did in phase one indoors at NTA in the fall term of 2019, was developed into a performance work titled “Jeg graver (I am digging)”.
The research in phase two during Spring 2020, at Talberg Nedre farm in Sarpsborg, Norway, I was supposed to share a performance at the farm with a live audience, but because of the Covid-19 situation I made a film in collaboration with visual artist and filmmaker André Wulf. The title of the film is “Jordtone (Earth tone)”.
To access the film send an email to the artist on movinginspace@gmail.com
Can you describe the international profile of NTA – from a student perspective?
- The environment at NTA is diverse and facilitates exciting exchanges between students, professional artists, and guest teachers from different countries, with different backgrounds, skills and interests within performance, scenography, and theater. The teaching language is English.
Since graduating – what artistic work and projects have you been involved in?
- I have worked as a freelance choreographer, dancer and performance artist since 1998, and have been working full-time since 2003 with my own artistic projects and performances. After graduating from NTA I have continued my collaboration with artist colleague Marianne Skjeldal, we run the collaboration LATERNA, that received a 3-year funding May 2018 for the project CoSA-Concerning the Spiritual in Art (2018-2020). Because of the pandemic parts of this project have been postponed and extended to 2021 and 2022.
LATERNA is currently associated artists at Black Box teater in Oslo (2019-21).
I have been working as a dancer in two different projects; “ALL- A Physical Poem Of Protest” by Mia Habib Productions, and “How we carry stones in us” by Kyuja Bae. I have also continued the collaboration with visual artist and filmmaker André Wulf and we are planning a new project together.
What would be your ultimate, artistic project in the future?
- It´s difficult to choose one ultimate project. I would like to continue my own artistic work and continue artistic collaborations that I have and to explore new ones.
Stay tuned for more info about future projects at www.iroart.com and iRodancer on Facebook