Introduction
The Momentum Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, established in 1998, stands as Scandinavia's first major international contemporary art exhibition. Set in the picturesque coastal town of Moss, approximately 60 kilometers south of Oslo, Momentum has evolved into a vital platform for showcasing Nordic artistic perspectives within a global context, attracting international attention for its bold curatorial vision and innovative approach to exhibition-making.
Now in its 13th edition, Momentum is organized and produced by Galleri F 15, a prestigious Norwegian art institution founded in 1966. The biennial operates with a unique dual focus: presenting emerging and established Nordic artists while engaging them in dialogue with international contemporaries. Each edition is guided by a thematic framework that explores urgent contemporary concerns through distinctly Nordic perspectivesâcreating a cultural bridge between regional artistic traditions and global art discourse.
Momentum's distinctive character emerges from its setting in Moss, where exhibitions unfold across multiple venues including the historic Galleri F 15 on the island of Jeløy, creating a cultural journey that connects art with the region's natural landscapes, industrial heritage, and urban spaces. This distributed model encourages exploration beyond traditional gallery environments, activating unexpected contexts for artistic encounters and fostering deeper engagement with place and community.
In the News
Current coverage of Momentum Nordic Biennial
Sound as Gateway: How Momentum 13 Reimagines Nordic Art Through Sonic Exploration
In a world where visual spectacle dominates the contemporary art landscape, the 13th edition of the Momentum Nordic Biennial makes a bold statement by turning to something more elemental and often overlooked: sound. Under the direction of curator Morten Søndergaard, "Between/Worlds: Resonant Ecologies" positions sonic experience as a transformative mediumâone capable of revealing connections between human and non-human realms that might otherwise remain imperceptible, and in doing so, redefines what a biennial can be in the Nordic context.
The origins of this sonic turn can be traced to Momentum's ongoing evolution. Since its founding in 1998, the biennial has served as a critical platform for Nordic contemporary art, consistently questioning what "Nordic" means as both a geographic designation and cultural concept. Early editions established Moss as an unlikely but vibrant art destination, drawing international attention to the small industrial town south of Oslo. Yet while Momentum gained recognition for introducing Nordic talent to global audiences, it has continued to search for distinctive curatorial approaches that could offer something beyond the established biennial format.
This sonic edition represents the culmination of several transformative shifts in the biennial's identity. The first significant change came in 2021 when Momentum relocated its primary venue from the urban center of Moss to Galleri F 15 on the island of Jeløy. This move from post-industrial spaces to a historic manor house surrounded by forests and fjords created new possibilities for site-responsive work while strengthening connections between art and natural environments. The second shift occurred with the appointment of Lise Pennington as the institution's new director and her subsequent selection of Søndergaardâan internationally acclaimed sound art curator and professor at Aalborg Universityâto lead the 13th edition.
"This is not simply a thematic overlay," Pennington explains, "but a fundamental reorientation of how we experience art and relate to our surroundings." For Momentum 13, sound becomes both medium and methodologyâa way to attune audiences to otherwise hidden dimensions of experience. The exhibition unfolds across five distinct zones: the post-industrial city of Moss, the forests of Alby, the Oslo Fjord, the volcanic island of Jeløy, and the historic buildings of Galleri F 15. Each zone offers a different acoustic environment, inviting visitors to engage with art through what Søndergaard calls "unprepared listening."
What makes this approach particularly significant in the Nordic context is its alignment with regional philosophical traditions. Nordic countries have long embraced holistic relationships with nature, evident in concepts like the Norwegian "friluftsliv" (open-air living) and Finnish "metsäsuhde" (forest relationship). Sound art's emphasis on immersive experience and environmental interconnection resonates deeply with these cultural values while offering contemporary interpretations that avoid romantic or nationalistic pitfalls.
The roster of participating artistsâapproximately 40 in totalârepresents a diverse mix of Nordic and international practitioners working at the intersection of sound, ecology, and technology. From Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller's immersive forest installation to Antye Greie-Ripatti's explorations of indigenous sonic knowledge, the works collectively build an argument for listening as a critical practice in an age of environmental crisis and perceptual overload.
Perhaps most striking about Momentum 13 is how it leverages the concept of the "ultra-local" to engage with global concerns. Rather than importing international spectacle, participating artists are grounding their work in the specific sonic environments of Moss and its surroundings. This hyperlocal focus paradoxically enables more meaningful global conversations about shared ecological challenges. "What happens between worldsâhuman, non-human, and more-than-humanâwhen we truly listen?" asks Søndergaard. The answer, it seems, is a profound recalibration of our relationship to both art and environment.
For visitors, the experience of Momentum 13 will be unlike traditional art viewings. Instead of moving quickly from one visual object to another, audiences are invited to slow down, attune their senses, and engage with time-based works that might require extended attention. From participatory listening walks through Alby forest to immersive sonic installations in former industrial spaces, the exhibition demands a different kind of engagementâone that privileges embodied experience over spectacle or Instagram-ready moments.
This shift towards the sonic may well represent the future direction of Nordic contemporary art more broadly. As climate crisis intensifies awareness of environmental interconnection and digital technologies increasingly mediate visual culture, sound offers a potent alternative mode of artistic engagementâone capable of bypassing visual oversaturation to create more direct sensory experiences. Through its focus on "resonant ecologies," Momentum 13 suggests that listening might be essential not just for appreciating art, but for reimagining our place within complex natural and cultural systems.
As Momentum continues to evolve, this sonic edition may well be remembered as a watershed momentâthe point at which a Nordic biennial discovered its most distinctive voice by embracing the art of listening.
Artistic Vision & Themes
Throughout its 25+ year history, the Momentum Biennial has explored diverse thematic concerns that reflect both Nordic artistic perspectives and global dialogues. Each edition's curatorial approach contributes to an evolving understanding of contemporary art's relationship to broader social, political, and environmental contexts, with the biennial serving as a laboratory for testing new ideas and methodologies.
The 13th edition, "Between/Worlds: Resonant Ecologies" (2025), represents a bold new direction under the curatorial leadership of Morten Søndergaard. This edition focuses specifically on sound as a medium for artistic exploration and a means of investigating the relationships between human and non-human realms. Taking place across five distinct zonesâthe post-industrial city of Moss, the forests of Alby, the Oslo Fjord, the volcanic island of Jeløy, and the historic buildings of Galleri F 15âthe exhibition comprises approximately 40 site-specific projects that engage with the resonant ecologies of these diverse environments.
Søndergaard's curatorial concept positions sound as a transformative medium that can attune audiences to overlooked dimensions of experience. "Sound, as a medium, shifts our sensibility," he explains. "It attunes us to worlds otherwise hidden, invites us to experience the unseen, and propels us beyond human-centric narratives." The exhibition invites visitors to step into a space of "unprepared listening"âto tune into the resonant ecologies around them through immersive installations, participatory listening walks, and site-specific sound works that amplify the voices of both human and non-human actors.
This focus on sound art represents a distinctive approach within the Nordic biennial landscape, yet it connects to earlier Momentum editions through its concern with alienation, emotion, and ecological consciousness. The 9th edition (2017), themed "Alienation," examined how technological, ecological, and social transformations were creating a sense of estrangement in contemporary life. The 10th edition (2019), "The Emotional Exhibition," explored emotions as a way to engage with complexity beyond purely rational approaches. The 12th edition (2023), "Together as to gather," curated by the artist collective Tenthaus, emphasized collectivity and inclusion through different forms of engagement.
These evolving thematic approaches demonstrate Momentum's responsiveness to changing artistic, social, and environmental conditions while maintaining its commitment to fostering dialogue between different cultural contexts and perspectives. By addressing both local concerns and global challenges, the biennial creates spaces for critical reflection on contemporary realities and possible futures, with each edition building upon the foundation laid by its predecessors.
History & Legacy
The origins of the Momentum Biennial trace back to the late 1990s, a period when Scandinavia was seeking to strengthen its position in the international contemporary art world. Launched in 1998, Momentum was conceived as a platform to profile young Scandinavian artists and present them within an international context, filling a gap in the Nordic cultural landscape at a time when the region lacked a major recurring international art event.
The inaugural edition was curated by Lars Bang Larsen, Daniel Birnbaum, and Atle Gerhardsen, establishing the foundation for what would become one of the most enduring and influential biennials in the Nordic region. From its beginning, Momentum adopted a collective curatorial approach, often bringing together curators from different Nordic countries to create a truly regional perspective rather than representing a singular national viewpoint.
Over the years, Momentum has evolved in both scale and scope. Initially centered primarily in the Momentum Kunsthall, a converted brewery in Moss's city center, the biennial gradually expanded to include multiple venues throughout the town and surrounding areas. A significant shift occurred around 2020-2021 when the biennial relocated its main exhibition spaces from the urban center to the island of Jeløy, where Galleri F 15 is situated within a historic manor landscape, creating stronger connections between contemporary art and natural environments.
Throughout its evolution, the biennial has maintained its commitment to exploring what "Nordic" means as a term and concept, with each edition approaching this question differently. While firmly rooted in its regional context, Momentum has consistently engaged with global dialogues and contemporary challenges, positioning itself as both a reflection of Nordic cultural identity and a window into international artistic developments.
Inaugural edition of Momentum, establishing Scandinavia's first major international contemporary art biennial, co-curated by Lars Bang Larsen, Daniel Birnbaum, and Atle Gerhardsen
Momentum and Galleri F 15 merge into one institution called Punkt Ă, strengthening the institutional framework for the biennial
Fifth edition explores contemporary art's engagement with social and political concerns, establishing the biennial's commitment to addressing urgent societal issues
Ninth edition themed "Alienation" investigates technological, ecological, and social transformations, curated by a team of five Nordic curators
Tenth anniversary edition "The Emotional Exhibition" reflects on the biennial's history and impact, curated by Marti Manen
Major transition as the biennial relocates its main venue to Galleri F 15 on the island of Jeløy, emphasizing connections between art and natural environments
First edition curated by an art collective (Tenthaus) with the theme "Together as to gather," focusing on collectivity and inclusion
13th edition "Between/Worlds: Resonant Ecologies" curated by Morten Søndergaard, exploring sound art and ecological interconnection
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Exhibition Venues
The Momentum Biennial transforms Moss's landscape by activating multiple venues across the city and the nearby island of Jeløy. This distributed approach encourages exploration of different areas while highlighting the region's architectural and natural diversity. Since 2021, the biennial has shifted its center of gravity to Jeløy, though it continues to maintain a presence in urban Moss.
Primary Venues
Galleri F 15
A historic art gallery established in 1966, housed in a 19th-century manor on the island of Jeløy. Set within a carefully preserved landscape overlooking the Oslo Fjord, this venue creates a dialogue between contemporary art and historical architecture.
Alby Forest
The woodland areas surrounding Galleri F 15 provide settings for site-specific installations and sound works that engage with the natural environment. For the 2025 edition, these spaces will host sonic explorations of ecological interconnection.
Oslo Fjord
The waters surrounding Jeløy offer opportunities for installations and performances that activate the relationship between land and sea. Previous editions have included boat-based performances and floating artworks.
Urban Moss
Various locations throughout the city of Moss, including former industrial spaces, public areas, and cultural institutions, continue to host biennial projects that engage with the town's post-industrial identity.
Venue Evolution
The venue history of Momentum reflects its institutional evolution:
- 1998-2019 - Momentum Kunsthall, a converted brewery in downtown Moss, served as the biennial's main venue, complemented by Galleri F 15 and various off-site locations
- 2021-Present - Following the expiration of the brewery lease, Galleri F 15 on Jeløy became the primary venue, with additional sites throughout Moss
- 2025 Edition - The upcoming biennial will particularly emphasize the natural and acoustic features of these venues, with installations that respond to specific sonic environments
This distributed venue approach creates a unique visitor experience that combines art viewing with exploration of Moss's diverse environments. By moving between historic buildings, woodland areas, industrial spaces, and waterfront settings, audiences engage not only with the artworks but also with the cultural and natural heritage of the region.
Video Experience
Experience the unique setting and artistic vision of the Momentum Nordic Biennial through this video tour of its venues and concepts.
Video: Momentum Nordic Biennial Tour | Watch on YouTube
Venue Locations
The Momentum Biennial spans multiple venues across Moss and the island of Jeløy, with Galleri F 15 serving as the primary exhibition site since 2021. Explore the map below to locate key venues and plan your visit.
Moss City Guide
Navigate the charming coastal town of Moss like a cultural insider with our curated guide to the region's art districts, hidden gems, and creative neighborhoods beyond the biennial venues.
Scenic beaches and woodland trails
Historic manor with Munch artworks
Artist workshops and galleries
Industrial heritage and museums
Cultural Highlights
- đ Alby Kafe: Famous for their "Albykringla" pastries near Galleri F 15
- đ Moss Glassworks: Watch artisans create glass art on Jeløy
- đ Moss By- og Industrimuseum: Museum showcasing local industrial heritage
- đ Jeløy Church: Modern church with stunning stained glass by Victor Sparre
Getting Around
Moss is easily accessible by train from Oslo (40 minutes). Within Moss, local buses connect the city center with Jeløy. For exploring the biennial venues, walking or cycling is recommended to fully experience the landscape between sites. The Moss-Horten ferry connects to the western side of the Oslo Fjord.