Norway is a country of «hytte» (vacation homes / cottages), where almost half of the population has access to one.
The «hytte» is a place were families can gather, bond and create memories together.
But what happens when the owner dies, or wants to sell?
This exhibit touches upon emotions and experiences such as joy, sorrow, love, anger and longing.
Specifically, this exhibit is about the sense of «togetherness» families experience at the «hytte», either when sharing experiences or by spending time apart. It also explores the differences between being «at home» and «at the hytte», and how many people have childhood memories from vacations spent together with family or friends at the «hytte».
The exhibit explores the following topics:
The «hytte» as a gathering place for old furniture and items – a «museum of family history»
The work and skills being put into maintaining the «hytte». Being able to fit in with the in-laws and contribute towards the upkeep of the «hytte». Questions around whether one considers oneself fit enough to «do their part».
Issues concerning inheritance, or what might happen when a family member wants to sell. Thinking of the «hytte» as something transitory, something that might disappear, even if it is one of the last connections you might have to a region your family came from. The exhibit explores how some people might feel this responsibility as a burden.
A lot of Norwegians can relate to the decor found in a typical «hytte», or the happy memories they have created there. What sort of emotions or memories does it evoke in you?
«Wandering exhibition»
A wandering exhibition from the University Museum of Oslo. It was created through the research project «materialization of lineage», where the subject is lineage and family relations in the context of the Norwegian tradition surrounding «hytte». The exhibit will be available at the Norwegian Museum of Travel and Tourism until the end of September, 2025.
