Jane Avril
16 – 31 January 2025
Oslo Project Space
Platou’s gate 18
29 January 2025
Lecture: Jane Avril and artists who depicted her
In the exhibition Jane Avril at Oslo Prosjektrom, the artist Maria Norrman shows various works about her relationship with the French dancer Jane Avril (1868-1943). Avril was a friend and model of the artist Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901).
In 2003, Norrman was 15 years old and saw pictures of Jane Avril in a book about Toulouse-Lautrec and read about her life story. Since then, Norrman has been fascinated by Avril’s personality and artistic expression. “It was like finding a soulmate or a person from a previous life,” says the artist.
Since 2004, Maria Norrman has tried in various ways to get close to Avril and her age by creating various artistic works. Norrman has made a documentary in Paris about Avril’s life, recreated Avril’s clothing style and used these as everyday clothes, and staged her dances. One of these dances is shown in a video installation in Oslo Prosjektrom. In addition, a selection of works from these 21 years is shown.
During the exhibition, Norrman gives a lecture about Jane Avril and artists who have portrayed her over the years, such as Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec and Norrman herself. This is the first time Norrman’s work on Jane Avril is shown in Norway.
