Næs Ironworks
Næs Ironworks was established in 1665. This ironworks produced wrought iron, beautiful stoves, tools, quality steel and the like. There were many ironworks along the coast of south-eastern Norway. The Næs works had its own community of workers and their livestock, and included a school, a general store and a poor relief fund. Tvedestrand served as a port for the works, and charcoal was provided by local farmers. The young theologian Jacob Aall purchased Næs in 1799 and turned it into a model works. Work was hard and sometimes scorching hot. Wet sacking was the only protection available. The charcoal blast furnace was closed down in 1909. Steel production continued in the traditional manner until the works’ dam was swept away by a flood in 1959. The Næs Iron Works Museum opened in 1992.
photo: Bård Løken
Kjell Erik Killi Olsen
is a Norwegian painter, illustrator, graphic artist and sculptor. He is particularly well-known for his simple, but distinctive, sculptures and colourful paintings which often depict humanoid, grotesque and humorous fantasy figures inspired by contemporary design and exotic art. Killi Olsen was educated at the National Academy of Art and the Polish Academy of Art and has held exhibitions all over the world.
Kjell Erik Killi Olsen visited the Næs Ironworks Museum during the spring and was inspired by the facility, the Aall family's park, the history of the works and not least by Madame Lovise Andrea Aall. He has created a series of sculpture models, 20 of which are being exhibited at the Næs Ironworks Museum in June.
