War is Peace?

The title of the exhibition refers to George Orwell's iconic book ”1984” and highlights how language can be used to distort truth and shape our understanding of reality. In “1984”, "War is Peace" is one of the Party's slogans; war keeps the population united and obedient, creating a form of internal peace and stability within society under the governing party's control.

War is Peace? brings together works from the 19th century to today, spanning Francisco Goya's brutal etchings to Barbara Kruger's powerful graphic messages. It investigates and critiques how violence and war not only unfold on the battlefield but are also deeply woven into societal structures.

Rather than offering easy answers, the exhibition opens space for critical reflection and invites us to consider the possibility of a different future. Is violence an unavoidable part of human nature? Can peace be something more than the absence of conflict? Can we imagine a peace built on care, justice, and belonging? In a time of global disorder, War is Peace? challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and envision paths toward peace that we may not yet have the words to describe.

War is Peace? opens during Oslo Culture Night on 12 September, 2025, and runs until April 2026.