Press release -
Artist and Mediator selected for SOLO OSLO V
Artist Kim Hankyul and mediator Stephanie Serrano Sundby have been selected to take part in the fifth edition of SOLO OSLO. This series is part of MUNCH's commitment to contemporary art, and contributes to developing the local art scene by giving newly established artists and mediators an opportunity to develop their practice.
A solo exhibition at a museum is an important step in an artist’s career. The enhanced professional support around the artist can garner greater visibility and attention both within the art field and among wider audiences. A solo exhibition at MUNCH can also enable the artist to develop an international career. For mediators, the programme provides a unique platform for exploring new working methods to create engaging experiences for specific audience groups.
This year’s selection
Kim Hankyul (b.1990, Busan, South Korea) is an exciting artist who has presented a series of striking installations grounded in sensory encounters between technology, myth, and the everyday. His work has been exhibited at a number of important smaller institutions such as Kunstnerforbundet in Oslo, Entrée in Bergen, Nitja in Lillestrøm, and Oslo Kunstforening, where Hankyul was awarded the Sparebankstiftelsen DNB Grant in 2022.
The jury commented that Hankyul has demonstrated that he is at a point in his artistic career where he is ready for a solo exhibition at a museum. In both the application and the interview process, they were impressed by Hankyul's self-reflection, openness to collaboration, and ideas for development. His earlier works show an ability to "command the space" on floor 10 at MUNCH. His solo exhibition at MUNCH will open in March 2026.
In her mediation project, Stephanie Serrano Sundby (b. 1992 in Oslo) aims to create inclusive meeting points for neurodivergent young adults. She uses a participant-based approach rooted in the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’. The jury praised Sundby for her deep understanding of relevant theories and methods, as well as her ability to open art experiences to more people by centering the work.
About the process
The selection of both the artist and mediator was made following an open call. This year, over 100 applications were submitted for SOLO OSLO.
“The jury was impressed by the high quality and range of applications for SOLO OSLO V, from both artists and mediators,” commented chair of the jury, Tominga O’Donnell.
“Throughout our consideration of all the applicants and the final round of interviews, our different perspectives and professional experiences of artistic practice and mediation gave rise to fascinating discussions where we came to an agreement in the end. As a curator, I look forward to working with Kim Hankyul and seeing his ideas realised at MUNCH.’”
About SOLO OSLO
SOLO OSLO is part of MUNCH's commitment to contemporary art. The series contributes to developing the local art scene by giving newly established artists and mediators an opportunity to develop their practice.
The exhibitions take place on Floor 10 in the museum, where the unique space “in the kink” has an eight-meter high ceiling, providing a range of possibilities for spectacular installations. In order to prepare for an exhibition of this scale, artists are offered a residency at Edvard Munch’s former studio at Ekely prior to the exhibition.
The artist receives a production budget of up to 500,000 Norwegian kroner to develop new work. Both the artist and mediator receive a fee of 150,000 kroner. Both will begin work in early 2025, giving them a year to work on their projects.
SOLO OSLO is supported by Talent Norge and Canica.
This is the fifth edition of SOLO OSLO. Previous artists in the series were Sandra Mujinga, Apichaya Wanthiang, Admir Batlak and Constance Tenvik. Previous mediators in the series were Zeenat Amiri Waaler, Frida Rusnak, Elisabeth Jørgensen and Ifrah Osman.
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This year’s jury
Amina Sahan, TrAP – Transcultural Arts Production and Nøkkel til byen
Yamile Calderón, board member, BO – Billedkunstnerne i Oslo
Ragnhild Aamås, board chair, Unge Kunstneres Samfund (UKS)
Tove Aadland Sørvåg, mentor for art mediators in SOLO OSLO
Zeenat Amiri Waaler, Concept developer for SOLO OSLO V’s education programme
Tominga O'Donnell, head of the jury, mentor for the artists and curator of SOLO OSLO V
(Tove Aadland Sørvåg and Zeenat Amiri Waaler have one joint vote in the jury process.)
Kim Hankyul (b.1990, Busan, South Korea) lives and works in Oslo, Norway. Through evocative soundscapes and mechanical movements, his work questions nations and borders, belief systems and media communities. He holds a bachelor's degree in Aesthetics from Seoul National University and a master's degree in Art from The Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, University of Bergen. Hankyul’s work has been awarded the Kistefos Prize and the Sparebankstiftelsen DNB’s grant in Norway and is held in the Astrup Fearnley Collection. His work has recently been presented at Salón Acme, Mexico City (2024), Pal Project, Paris (2024), Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo (2024) and Entrée, Bergen (2023).
Stephanie Serrano Sundby (she/her, born 1992 in Oslo, Norway) has an MA in Art History from the University of Bergen and a BA in Information Studies with specialisation in archives, libraries and museums from the University of Copenhagen. Sundby works as a freelance writer and art educator, as well as having held positions with Norsk Kunsthåndverkere, Norske Grafikere and Norwegian Crafts. Sundby wants to utilise participant-based mediation and practices of care as ways of rethinking the art and education space. In this, she wants to create a safer space for diverse communities and inclusive communication.
