Kari Mølstad

Visual system

12 August - 19 September 2021

For the exhibition "Visual system", Kari Mølstad takes as a starting point the basic form of the circle, before working it in different directions. Using a process of manipulation and grinding, Mølstad finds ways to express herself through the glass and its surface. Hundreds of tracks are ground into a Visual System, the autonomous lines combined provides a sense of calm.

Nature has always been Mølstad's axis. Her curiosity about how nature is composed and how it functions is reflected in a kind of abstraction where she zooms in on objects and creates constructions, not unlike molecules.

Both glassblowing and grinding are human and physical processes, the artist’s body weight is transferred into the pattern with an artistic impression. Some of the tracks are deep, like strong furrows, whilst others have a lighter touch. The placement of each subsequent track must be carefully considered, and the physical work becomes a kind of meditative exercise where she turns her gaze inwards. The exercise culminates in a quiet art, not unlike the silences found in nature.

Kari Mølstad (born 1977) is is a norwegian glass artist blased in Lillehammer.  She was educated at the Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design, Conservation in Bornholm, Denmark, and The National School of Glass in Orrefors, Sweden.  Mølstad has also worked for recognized glass artists such as Dale Chihuly, Lars Hellsten, Jack Wax, Kari Håkonsen and Vidar Koksvik. Mølstad has participated in several juried exhibitions including The Annual Exhibition of the Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (2012 ,2017, 2018, 2020), Norwegian Presence (2015) and Everything is Connected (2017) with Norwegian Crafts during Milan design week; in addition, she has, with Galleri Format, exhibited at Collect in London (2015, 2017, 2018). Mølstad is represented in several Norwegian art collections including the collections of The National Museum, KODE Bergen, Nordenfjeldske Art and Industry Museum, The City of Oslo Art Collection and Lillehammer Art Museum.