Markus Lantto:
Reven tenkjer ikkje på Gud

Starting from the question “How do I create a general sacred form?”, Markus Lantto investigates which architectural and symbolic strategies prompt us to lift our gaze, lower our voices, and experience a sense of calm, wonder, or hope. The monumentality of churches, their ornamented interiors, and hierarchical structures form a backdrop for a broader reflection on power, faith, and cultural imprint. How can certain spatial and aesthetic experiences trigger something resembling belief—even in those who do not consider themselves religious?

“I think about the power relations that arise when one enters a church environment (…) We are Christians whether we want to be or not; we are just not believers. Except for those of us who are, of course.”

In the exhibition space, Lantto constructs a site-specific sculptural ceiling made of ornamental beams, establishing an architectural space within the space. Inspired by religious buildings from various traditions, the structure invites the viewer into a mythological and spiritual universe. It is a sacred ceiling that does not belong to any one religion, yet still carries resonance and recognisable signs of something greater.

The exhibition consists of several installations and sculptures in wood, as well as embroidery and a poetic sound work. The artworks reflect on how we understand and experience sacred symbols today. Lantto approaches the material with both precision and curiosity, balancing respect and distance with an awareness of the comic potential that can arise when cultural heritage and the contemporary collide.

With curiosity, scepticism, and warmth, «Reven tenkjer ikkje på Gud» (The Fox Does Not Think About God) opens a space for reflection on faith, doubt, and cultural inheritance—and on how we continue to seek meaning in symbols that may seem distant, yet are deeply rooted within us.

Artist Talk

There will be an artist talk with Markus Lantto on Saturday, 31 January, and a conversation with author Håvard J. Nilsen based on his book “Du” (2020) on Thursday, 5 February.

Markus Lantto (b. 1973, Kiruna) is a visual artist educated in fine art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Umeå. He is also a writer and instrument maker. His artistic practice focuses on how materials, form, and space interact and evolve in relation to one another. Lantto’s work has included paraphrases of altarpieces and the construction of actual coffins, including for family members. His works are characterised by a deep respect for craftsmanship, ritual, and the emotional significance of objects, while simultaneously examining their symbolism and cultural weight.

Lantto has published two novels and one children’s book, and has realised several works in public space. He has participated in numerous exhibitions, including the Kväänibiennaali 2025, including the Kväänibiennaali 2025 at the Nordnorsk Art Museum in Tromsø, which will also be shown in Alta and in Longyearbyen in 2026. And exhibitions at Luleå Konsthall, Trøndelagsutstillingen, Heimdal kunstforening, Trondheim Art Museum, Møre og Romsdal Art Centre, Rake Visningsrom, and Kurant Visningsrom.