From his very first solo exhibition (41 years ago at Galleri 1 in Bergen) till today, Stein Rønning has developed a remarkably precise visual language, that brings together fundamental characteristics of sculpture and photography. Rønning addresses the interconnected relationship between what is seen and what is created. While his authorship is seemingly strict and minimal, once we start examining the images and objects, they often reveal themselves to be incredibly extensive and complex.

No part of Rønning’s work occurs by accident or without contemplation. Each step of his artistic process is taken deliberately, can be traced back and follows its own patterns. All throughout, Stein Rønning’s practice is based on seriality and can rationally be divided in three separate groups: support structures, sculptural works and photographic images. The exhibition dis – tribute at Hordaland Kunstsenter presents a rather unique situation where two of these groups are shown alongside each other in one room. Through photographs and sculptures, the exhibition focuses on the process of replicating.

In his photographic works, Rønning presents framed prints that show the interplay and careful arrangements of plain but precisely built boxes from various woods. The wooden boxes can be seen as mirroring the camera-object – in its most basic form, also a box. Photographed against a neutral background, detailed, textured wooden exteriors are transported by light onto the analogue film inside the camera. Rønning draws the viewer’s gaze toward the photograph’s surface, to its materiality and to the fact that the photograph is an object in itself.

In a series of new sculptures, Rønning revisits works that he made 25 years ago – then created blindly in clay and casted in bronze. From photo-documentation of these sculptures, Rønning has now developed new three-dimensional bodies through a careful re-enactment of his own movements. Rønning addresses the becoming of the replica as the creation of a new skin. Instead of using bronze, his usual medium, the new sculptures are visibly experimental, made out of materials like shellac and bone char – emphasising even more the relation to a sculptural body and skin.

In recent years Stein Rønning has presented solo exhibitions at Galleri Riis, Oslo; Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo; Kristiansand Kunsthall, Kristiansand; Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall, Arendal, to mention a few. Recent group exhibitions include shows at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne; Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Tromsø; Stavanger Kunstmuseum, Stavanger; F.O.D.O, Waterloo Action Centre, London; Carnegie Art Award, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen; Gallery MOLAF. Bergen. Throughout his career he has been teaching at the National Academy of Fine Art in Oslo, Bergen Academy of Art and Design and the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, NTNU.