New York no 1 - Limited Edition 1 of 5 Photograph

Istad is working with photography, video and installation. She lives and works in Oslo, Norway. Through photographic studies, Christine Istad highlights details in modern architecture. Her photographs are analogue and refer to the real time and place in which they were taken. The motifs appear abstract and dissolved. Their detailed sections and optical effects creating new spaces, depths and rhythms. Identity, relationship between people, society and modern, high speed cities are topics that concerns the artist. The close-up studies of towering architecture and densely packed urbanity implicitly reveal her interest in mankind's capacity to confront and adapt to alienation and find small 'pockets' for physical and psychological space. The result is reminiscent of a principle of cultural anthropology, where the aim is “to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar: What happens to inherited traditions and fundamental values when high technology and efficiency become the defining powers in our lives? And how is the balance between man and nature maintained when the individual is increasingly defined as a "mechanical figure"? The works focus on the contrasts found in our most modern and innovative metropolises, where tradition and technology are thrown into sharp relief. The Dissolved series is thematically developed in connection with material and inspiration from her trips around the world. She has participated in several solo and group shows in both Norway and abroad. Solo shows at a.o. KUBE Art Museum, Henie Onstad Art Center, Oslo Art Center, Gallery Semmingsen. She has participated at several regional exhibitions in Norway. Cosmoscow 2018. Group shows at LNM, Kube Art Museum, Henie Onstad Art Center, Zoellner Gallery USA, Marres Maastricht, Louisiana Art & Science Museum USA, Bergen and Tromsø Art Hall. She has received her education from Strykejernet School of Art, Westerdals School of Communication and Parsons School of Design in New York. She has made several study trips to: Italy 2017, China 2006 and 2014, Japan 2006-09, USA 2016 and 2017. Istad has also done the pilgrimage to 88 temples at Shikoku in Japan, 1400 km and produced a book about it. Traveling SUN is a road trip and a site-specific art project by IstadPacini ArtLab, 2012- 2016.