August 30th - September 7th, 2025

Solobservatoriet / The Sun Observatory
Harestua, Norway

«The Sound of the Sun» brings together artists and researchers for an art exhibition, seminar, food experience, film screening, and an outdoor laser event that will take place throughout the Harestua Solar Observatory: inside the 20-meter Solar Tower, the research facilities, and in the surrounding forest. Astronomy, solar science, and the act of observation will be common threads throughout the exhibition, which will consist of sculpture, drawing, sound, photography, film, text, site-specific installation, and light. The exhibition explores the tension between art and science, where science seeks objective answers, and art opens up to wonder and imagination.

During its heyday, this modest complex of buildings hidden in the Norwegian forest was at the forefront of solar research. Today, the buildings remain as they were left by the researchers in the late 80’s with a feeling as if time has stood still—walking into the Solar Tower is like stepping onto the set of an old science fiction movie. In the weeks before the opening, the participants have been invited for an artist residency where they will live in the old researcher’s residence with open access to all the buildings to develop their work for the exhibition.

Participating artists:

Hedvig Biong
Bjørn Bjarre
Marianne Bjørnmyr
Pablo Castilla
Maggie Coblentz
Kira van Hoegee
Laila Kongevold
Jessica MacMillan
Marius Moldvær
Kajsa Parding
Katie Paterson
Greg Pope
Vegard Rekaa
Maria Dorothea Schrattenholz
Frøydis Sollid Simonsen
Katarina Skjønsberg
Renate Soleng
Johan Österholm
Nancy Holt
Rose Lowder
Maria Due

Curated and organised by Hedvig Biong, Jessica MacMillan and Marius Moldvær.