Norway, b. 1996. Lives and works in Oslo.

Editors: Søssa Jørgensen, Yngvild Færøy, Elin T. Sørensen (until 2003), Jan Høvo (until 2001)

The co-editors/members of Ballongmagasinet have studied at The Academies of Fine Arts in Trondheim and Oslo.

First sound art work: Ballongmagasinet radio programme at Radiorakel, Oslo FM 99.3, February 22nd, 1996

http://www.ballongmagasinet.com

Ballongmagasinet has provided sound to public space since 1996, seeking ideal production and screening venues for sound-art. First known as a weekly radio programme about sound-art, at Radiorakel, on the local FM band in Oslo. During three years, four young artists presented around 200 artists, who in some way included sound in their artistic practise.

In 1999 we wanted a broader audience and created the website www.ballongmagasinet.com, presenting soundworks accompanied with images, both historical and contemporary, international and local - catchy, narrative, noisy and playful. We joined forces with NIFCA to launch HELIUM, a net project in which curators from the extended Scandinavian area were invited. 25 selected artists were highlighted, with both sounds and visuals.

In 2003 we returned to the radio with Blind Film, 6 narrative soundworks created by composers, visual artists and writers, produced by Ballongmagasinet; NRK and NOTAM. The Blind Films were ”shown” in dark cinemas and on the National Norwegian radio. At the same time, for the Nordic pavillion at The Venice Biennual, we compiled the CD Electric Leak - the North of it with samples of Nordic experimental sound, ranging from Finnish electronic pioneers to new analogue artbands.

In 2005 we finally entered the art institution curating the exhibition The Idea of North in collaboration with the Canadian curator, Rhonda Corvese. The show was adressing locational aspects and the tone of a place, in this case the Gallery F15 outside Moss.

Sound installations, (very)local radio broadcasts, sound walks, and a listening lounge containing examples of Ballongmagasinet’s wide definition of sound-art, including text sound compositions, noise, field recordings, concrete music, audioplays, radio documentaries and experiments.

y_faero@hotmail.com (Yngvild Færøy)

balkong.oslo@c2i.net (Søssa Jørgensen)