PUBLIC RETREAT is an interdisciplinary, practice-based art project centered around the exploration of our common auditory urban environment and the human, non-human and more than human experiences of and relations to it.
The project is led by composer and sound artist Nicole Cecilie Bitsch Pedersen (DK), visual artist and writer Jo Mikkel Sjaastad Huse (NO) and architect and artist Johanna Fager (SE), with an international network of collaborators and conversation partners engaged.
Through artistic research, sound works, text, installations, radio broadcasts, workshops and exhibitions, our aim is to engage fellow citizens to contemplate on the role of sounds in our lives, from their purely physical properties to their emotional, psychological, and physiological impact.
The project manifests itself in several different ways, most recent and current work are artistic research within the framework of the Platform Deep Dive (SE) project, a solo exhibition as part of the Färgfabriken Architecture Triennale (SE) and a radio residency at radiOrakel (NO) doing 12 experimental sound pieces for radio.
Earlier works are, among others, a situated guided and meditative soundwork about public space and graveyards together with a manuscript and performance for SPARK Malmö (SE) and an immersive sound-, text-, and radio based solo exhibition in Helsinki (FI) at Gallery Oksasenkatu 11.
Future work includes participation and contribution to a symposium on the theme of sound and listening culture in a collaboration with Sound Art Lab and Struer Museum (DK) and soundwork on Radio Sydväst with support from the platform Of Public Interest (OPI) in Stockholm (SE).
In addition, PUBLIC RETREAT initiates and lead public collective listening sessions, workshops and meetings with both scientists researching spatial acoustics technology as well as different local communities of radio amateurs and professionals in connection to the exhibitions and symposium.
Bitsch Pedersen, Sjaastad Huse and Fager began their collaborative work in 2022 with the art and architect project NYA LÖVHOLMEN within the framework of Of Public Interest (OPI) Lab, which included semi-utopian architectural plans for an entire new neighborhood officially submitted as a citizen proposal; an absurd elevator pitch for an inverted skyscraper – a subterranean earth scraper – that could house all of mankind; handsewn site specific and locally distributed magazines; and a radio show about city planning, voiced in part by an enthusiastic bird. NYA LÖVHOLMEN was nominated for the Architects Sweden’s 2023 Critics Award.
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PUBLIC RETREAT is
Jo Mikkel Sjaastad Huse (b. 1991, NO), visual artist and writer working primarily within the fields of text, installation, performance and sound. Huse has education from art academies in Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø and Stockholm. Huse stages objects and creatures, and lets them speak on his behalf about work and leisure, and the position of the animal in a human centered world. Recently shown works at ANAFIFF (GRC), Palmera (NO), and Hjorten Sculpture Park (SE). Upcoming exhibitions in SKAL Contemporary (DK), Oplandia (NO) and BO (NO)
Nicole Cecilie Bitsch Pedersen (b. 1990, DK), composer, visual-, and sound artist exploring the interweaved relationship between nature, sound, and technology. Pedersen holds a Master's degree in composition from the Danish Institute of Electronic Music (DIEM) and a postmaster in public art from OPI Lab at Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden. She has recently exhibited at Skovhuset (DK), SPARK (SE), Nordic Music Days (FO), and received grants from the Danish Arts Foundation and Danish Composers’ Society.
Johanna Fager (b. 1982, SE), architect and artist working with public art, text, spatial installations and complex architectural projects. Her focus is often on the human experience of space(s) and their sequences, materiality, sound and the political context. She is educated at KTH School of Architecture, Royal Institute of Art (SE), the Royal Institute of Art (SE) and Academy of Art Architecture and Design (CZ). Currently working on a public artwork for Svenska Margaretakyrkan Oslo (NO) with Of Public Interest (OPI). She recently received grants from Helgo Zettervall’s Fund and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
Nicole Cecilie Bitsch Pedersen (b. 1990, DK), composer, visual-, and sound artist exploring the interweaved relationship between nature, sound, and technology. Pedersen holds a Master's degree in composition from the Danish Institute of Electronic Music (DIEM) and a postmaster in public art from OPI Lab at Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden. She has recently exhibited at Skovhuset (DK), SPARK (SE), Nordic Music Days (FO), and received grants from the Danish Arts Foundation and Danish Composers’ Society.
Johanna Fager (b. 1982, SE), architect and artist working with public art, text, spatial installations and complex architectural projects. Her focus is often on the human experience of space(s) and their sequences, materiality, sound and the political context. She is educated at KTH School of Architecture, Royal Institute of Art (SE), the Royal Institute of Art (SE) and Academy of Art Architecture and Design (CZ). Currently working on a public artwork for Svenska Margaretakyrkan Oslo (NO) with Of Public Interest (OPI). She recently received grants from Helgo Zettervall’s Fund and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.