Unveiled 2024

“Whistleblower”
by Kader Attia

Photo: Vegard Kleven

Whistleblower

Kistefos Museum is delighted to present Whistleblower, six captivating glass sculptures by internationally acclaimed artist Kader Attia. The sculptures, revealed to the public on August 22, 2024, are nestled in the tranquil forest south of The Twist. Whistleblower is the 54th work in the sculpture park, contributing to the museum’s rich collection with its profound exploration of the relationship between nature and culture.

Kader Attia’s Whistleblower is a poignant reflection on the tension between natural elements and human-made objects. The inspiration for the work comes from the sound created when the wind passes through the neck of a bottle—a simple yet powerful symbol of the interaction between nature and culture. Through this work, Attia explores how our natural environment’s immanence resists the pressures of mass consumerism, which is a major contributor to environmental degradation.

In the artist's own words, Whistleblower is not just a physical object, but a multisensory experience designed to involve the viewer both individually and collectively. The sculpture uses both visual and auditory stimuli to suggest an alternative approach to environmental stewardship, one that connects us intimately with nature, our loved ones, and future generations. The subtle, mysterious harmony created by the wind whistling through the bottlenecks serves as a metaphor for the need to re-evaluate humanity's perceived superiority over nature.

Attia's work emphasizes the urgency of systemic change to preserve the natural environment, echoing the global calls from scientists and activists for more significant action. The title Whistleblower captures this dual narrative, referring both to the physical phenomenon and the moral imperative to protect our planet.

Each glass sculpture was carefully sited by the artist in the Kistefos forest. The work’s formal qualities can give associations to cairns, which are commonly used to mark trails in nature – another interaction between nature and culture. The deep blue color of the hand-blown glass also reflects a rich local history: just a few kilometers south of Kistefos, the Blaafarveværket (Blue Colour Works) produced blue cobalt glass from 1776 to 1898. A short drive further south, Nøstetangen Glassworks was the first professional glassworks in Norway, established in 1741. Nøstetangen supplied fine table glassware to all of Denmark-Norway, including to the king in Copenhagen, the Danish nobility and beyond.

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Whistleblower by Kader Attia. Photo: Vegard Kleven

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Photo: Vegard Kleven

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Photo: Vegard Kleven