Patrik Entian and Aleksi Wildhagen are -& Co. They have spent a considerable amount og time in Hvittingfoss, which lies between the two artists’ homes. They met Terje and Berith during a coffee break at the gas station Best in Hvittingfoss. At the time they were transforming a municipal gravel heap into images of Mount Fuji in oil on canvas. Later on, they met the couple quite frequent, eventually moving their practice to the home of Terje and Berith where they became regular guests. At LNM -& Co. presents works painted in the proximity of Terje and Berith’s house during the winter and spring 2017, which in an impressionist manner depicts the surroundings.

The artists have formulated a simple obstruction; through conversation they will agree on two colours in addition to white. The choice of colours are kept for a week or so, before it is replaced by a new choice. The formats are decided by weather, mood and the level of ambition each day invites to, in addition to the time available before they must return to their individual homes.

For a long time during the beginning of the year, they painted outside of the main entrance at the north east side of the house, gradually moving towards the south west side. There was no plan for the relocation towards the sun, it just turned out that way.

Most of the paintings has dried outside in all kinds of weather. Some of the blind frames have some severe bulges, but it will be ok. A set of paintings lies underneath a caravan, they are soggy and looks like they are going to manage. The smaller formats are placed in a stable of Euro pallets. Some leaned for a period against an adherent, partly covered, partly in the open. Some were buried in a snow drift for a while.

When the white wagtail has returned, more hours are spent on the terrace inside tents and baldakins with coffee and histories with the scent of cigarettes and the sound of the bird song and Christian country music. Spring is good, life commences, and the paintings paint themselves.  Berith, Terje and -& Co. will be present at the exhibition opening where they will be signing El Rancho -& Co. a publication that will be released on this occasion.

-& Co. had their debut at Høstutstillingen 2014 where they, equipped with drawing boards and hearing protection, wandered around in the exhibition while they were drawing all the works. The drawings were displayed on a room divider on wheels. They moved the practice to Hvittingfoss,  a placed they explored as a outdoors artist’s studio. As mentioned, this was the place -& Co. met Terje and Berith who 2016 they later befriended and moved the practice to, a process that resulted in Don Quixote, Sancho Panza -& Co. at Trøndelag senter for samtidskunst. Next year they will continue with other projects to be shown at Kunstnerforbundet in Oslo and at Haugar Kunstmuseum in Tønsberg.