Bergen Kunsthall has launched "Iter Subterraneum," a group exhibition inspired by Ludvig Holberg’s 1741 satirical novel about a man who falls through a cave in Bergen into a subterranean world. The show features ten international artists, including Robert Gabris, Anicka Yi, and Cecilia Fiona, whose works span video, sculpture, and performance. By pairing historical editions of Holberg’s book with contemporary installations, the exhibition explores themes of displacement, collective existence, and the blurring of lines between human and non-human life.
This exhibition matters because it bridges local literary heritage with global contemporary art to address modern ecological and social anxieties. By using a 13th-century "hollow earth" narrative as a framework, the curators facilitate a dialogue on utopia and organic equality, challenging anthropocentric views. The inclusion of high-profile artists like Anicka Yi alongside site-specific commissions underscores Bergen Kunsthall’s role in connecting regional history to broader international discourses on the environment and identity.