Kvorning Design & Communication and the Norwegian Vindfang have won the competition for an exhibition concept about Norway’s second-largest export business, the aquaculture industry, for the Coastal Museum under the museum complex at Sør-Trøndelag in Norway. The concept of ’The Pioneers’ takes as its inspiration the tales of the initiative-takers ’from the fish-farming heartland’. Who were they? What did they think? How did they advance by trial and error? What proved successful? And what did they learn?

At Hitra, on an island just off Trondheim, it’s all about salmon. Here, fish eggs are fertilized, matured and hatched in fresh water. Here young salmonids grow to full size in the floating fish-rearing cages of the sea. And here at the Coastal Museum’s Sandstad Department they are harvested. So this is the obvious location to convey the history of the Norwegian fish-farming industry, and to let 24 pioneers tell you about their contribution to the development of Norway’s second-largest export trade.

Kvorning and Vindfang’s concept conveys Norwegian fish-farming history from 1970 to the present day through three major narratives: The local history, with animation of Hitra and the area; the national history of the pioneers along the coast from Finnmark to Vestfold, through wall panels, photos, interactive screens, short texts, objects in display cases, light and sound; and the history of the salmon and the industry as a reworked 360-degree show with moving pictures and natural sounds in Aegir’s Hall: the octagonal cinema. Silhouettes of the 24 pioneers reflect the dynamics. Past and present.

The concept was won in a competition, with Kvorning Design & Communication and Vindfang from Hitra teaming up to secure international experience for the assignment combined with a local presence. Head of Department Magnar Ansnes from the Coastal Museum at Hitra justifies the winner concept thus:

“Kvorning and Vindfang’s exhibition concept is both self-mediating and well suited to larger groups with a guide. The overall look of the concept works well, just as the route around it is self-evident. The re-purposing of existing installations by the team, e.g. in Aegir’s Hall, frees up resources and gives us more room for manoeuvre. And finally, the team’s excellent control of the light is a feature to which the museum attributes great importance.”