Behind Open Doors – 40 years of art at “31B”

“31B” is an activity centre for people who have found themselves in contact with the world of psychiatric medicine, but the centre does not offer treatment or therapy – it offers a place to be, and the freedom to take part, or not take part, in a variety of creative activities. Visual art has been at the heart of “31B” since it opened in 1980, with a fully-equipped print workshop, a painting studio, a framing workshop and a small gallery open to the public.

Behind Open Doors presents prints by many of the people who have spent time at “31B” over the past four decades. The exhibition also includes wider selections of recent painting and drawing by some of those who “31B” users who work as full-time artists.

“31B” would like to thank all the users of the centre over the past 40 years. Particular thanks for all the art that has been made, that will find a new audience through this exhibition, and to all the staff who have left their mark on the place over the decades.

The exhibition, and the accompanying publication are supported by the Scheibler foundation, the Bergesen foundation, the Fritt Ord foundation and the City of Oslo.