Morten Viskum

Expanding upon Skira’s original publication, this updated publication dedicated to Morten Viskum (born 1965) presents each of his controversial projects, employing unconventional tools such as medical equipment, animal carcasses, cancer cells and even the hands of dead bodies.

The first official monograph dedicated to Morten Viskum, one of the most controversial contemporary artists in Norway. This volume collects the controversial artist's work in which he uses unconventional tools—including medical equipment, dead animals, cancer cells, and a deceased man's hand—to challenge the relationship between science and ethics, and what art can morally embrace. He became internationally known in 1995, when he conducted his “Rat/olive project.” In the course of two days, he replaced the content of 20 olive jars with newborn rats across 20 grocery stores in the five largest cities in Norway. Since then, he has been regarded as one of the most controversial contemporary artists in Norway. Through his performative works he has shed light on a fear of the ephemeral and the strange that pervades our culture.

Demetrio Paparoni, critic and curator, has edited and contributed to many artist monographs and catalogs. Jean Wainwright is an art historian, critic, and curator living in London.