MELK is an artist-run initiative for new Scandinavian photography located in Oslo, run by Behzad Farazollahi & Christian Tunge. The aim for the initiative is to raise awareness of the scene of contemporary photographers in the region and the position of the medium today, in a contemporary context.
For CHART 2023, MELK will exhibit new bodies of works by Thora Dolven Balke and Tori Wråens as part of a presentation that combines photographic work and sculptural work. MELK has consistently been interested in the combination of these two mediums, a key part of the gallery's programme continues to be an exploration of the dialogue between them.
Tori Wrånes (NO)
Tori Wrånes is a vocalist and artist with a transmedial artistic practice. Wrånes’ works unfold as performances, sculptures, videos and installations. Her use of sounds, musical instruments, costumes, props, architecture, and sculptures alter her appearance whilst creating new rituals and dreamlike environments.
Tori Wrånes (b. 1978, Kristiansand; NO) lives and works in Oslo (NO). Recent exhibitions include: Accelerator, Stockholm (SE); Shulamit Nazarian Gallery, Los Angeles (US); Lilith Performance Studio, Malmö (SE), Ujazdowski Castle for Contemporary Art, Warsaw (PL); Göteborg Konstmuseum, Gothenburg (SE); Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen (DK). Her work is included in the permanent collections of prominent institutions such as The National Museum (Nasjonalmuseet),Oslo (NO); Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo (NO); Kistefos Museum, Jevnaker (NO); Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, Oslo (NO).
Hot Pocket
- 2017
Courtesy of the artist and MELK. Photo by Tor Simen Ulstein
Singing Painting 43
- 2022
Courtesy of the artist and MELK. Photo by Mason Kuehler
Garden 64
- 2022
Courtesy of the artist and MELK. Photo by Mason Kuehler
Thora Dolven Balke explores the slippage between analogue and digital mediums, presenting original and enlarged polaroid photographs, epoxy resin and silicone cast objects in vibrant colors. Across these different media, Balke’s works depict familiar situations in seemingly ordinary places, grown out of her own experiences.
Thora Dolven Balke (b. 1982, Oslo) lives and works between Oslo and Rio de Janeiro, where she completed the Capacete programme in 2016. Recent solo exhibitions include: False Spring, Lydgalleriet (2020); You’re Dead, K4 (2020); FLOW, Cavalo, Rio de Janeiro and Melk (2019); and All that respires, conspires at UKS, Oslo and Ultima Festival (2017).
