The exhibitions floor by floor
2nd floor: OVERVIEW I: Hamsun's life and writings
The centerpiece of the floor is a glass display with first editions of Hamsun's books from 1877 to 1949. The display extends from the Nordlands wall where you can read about the ambitious Knud Pedersen and his upbringing in poor conditions in Hamsund, and to the opposite end of the floor where it is about the old, compromised Hamsun on the Nørholm estate. A selection of professionals and art by Martin Losvik and Sonja Langskjær add perspectives on the world-famous and controversial author.
3rd floor: The poetry of nerves
This floor displays Hamsun's psychological poetry through listening stations, art installations and illuminated quotes on the walls. The two installations Nevel (the moving walls) and Plexus (the nerve network hanging from the ceiling) are created by the Tromsø-based Belgian artist Lawrence Malstaf. The audience can move freely throughout the floor, and also move between the walls of Nevel .
The floor's listening library contains a collection of short Hamsun texts, which show the author's psychological poetry in various ways. The texts are in Norwegian, English and Lule Sami.
4th floor: In the lamplight
The exhibition is being developed in collaboration with students at Nord-Salten Upper Secondary School, and is part of the Norwegian Museum Association's project "Young Critics", which aims to increase children and young people's critical reflection on exhibitions in museums.
In "In the Light of the Lamp" you are invited to delve into six themes from Knut Hamsun's writings. The themes have been selected in dialogue with the students, based on questions, motifs and issues they themselves have found interesting in encountering the texts. The reading room is furnished with help and inspiration from the young people associated with the project, and it is about reading, thinking and expressing oneself honestly and clearly.
The project “Young Critics” is supported by the DNB Savings Bank Foundation via the Norwegian Museums Association.
5th floor: The controversial Hamsun
Hamsun was controversial from the beginning of his modern writing. We go into the breadth and depth of the ways in which he was controversial throughout his life and up to our time. Some of the examples make many people smile today, like or agree with, others make many people strongly dislike him today. You are invited to listen, read, delve into, think, write, and discuss Hamsun's value and significance today.
The exhibitions on the 5th floor are funded by Bodø2024, Fritt ord and Nordlandsmuseet.
Torsteinsen Design, Blæst Design and Netron are partners for exhibition design and technical solutions.
5th floor: Hamsun Epilogue
Here is displayed the latest series of Hamsun woodcuts by the German artist Friedrich Karl Gotsch. The Hamsun Epilogue folder is based on Hamsun's latest book On Overgrown Paths . The folder's five woodcuts and two Hamsun reviews (R. Italiaander (1949) and JP Hodin (1968)) are little known today and in various ways thought-provoking.
6th floor: OVERVIEW II: Hamsun's landscape
Roof terrace with fantastic views of the landscape.
1st floor: Kafé Sult , shop and reception
Welcome to the Hamsun Center's museum shop and bookstore. Here you can buy literature, t-shirts and other Hamsun items. In Kafé Sult We offer hot and cold dishes based on locally sourced ingredients and locally produced products from the north. The café features a series of paintings with motifs from the novel Pan, painted by Benjamin Bergman.
Book a tour and learn about the building's architecture and Knut Hamsun.
Photos on this page: Karoline OA Pettersen/VisitBodø
