Saturday 10 January 2026

London, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery (36 Tanner Street SE1), until 7 February: Norwegian artist Sverre Malling (b. 1977) is the maker of possible worlds. Or rather, in his work we encounter possible pasts, presents and futures. History is malleable, and the canons of Western art are revealed as constructions to be renegotiated and reassessed. What is revealed in the purity and simplicity of At The Mistress’ Request, his large presentation of charcoal drawings presented at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, is a distinct, almost haunting image-world.

At The Mistress’ Request brings together the astounding range of Sverre Malling’s practice. These works draw their strange charisma and dark virtuosity from the tensions and oppositions that run throughout the history of art. Over recent decades, Malling’s work has been largely devoted to teasing out such frictions, exploring lost connections in cultural history, our pasts as a foreign country. And pasts in the plural, because in Malling’s world the past contains multitudes: something to be reconfigured, redescribed, and reimagined.

Work by Sverre Malling is also currently on view at the British Museum as part of the exhibition Nordic Noir, until 22 March.

Sverre Malling, All the Things You Can C #1, 2025, charcoal and oil-based pencil on paper. Photo © Thomas Widerberg. Courtesy Sverre Malling and Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery.

London, Cafe OTO, 16 January: Stian Westerhus and Maja S. K. Ratkje - two artists usually associated with effect pedals, samplers, amplifiers and computers at three digit decibel levels - put aside all things electric and performed an acoustic set at Oslo Jazz Festival in 2019.

Ratkje and Westerhus, now armed with a 19th century pump organ, fiddle, acoustic guitar, some metal scrap and their voices, have gradually composed, developed and expanded their new repertoire. The fruits of this collaboration can be heard on their album All Losses Are Restored, with lyrics solely built from William Shakespeare’s body of work. The duo are performing at Cafe OTO as part of their European tour this spring.

Above: Stian Westerhus & Maja Ratkje performing at Jazzfest in Trondheim.

Currently shortlisted in three categories for this year's Academy Awards and now longlisted for best film among other categories at the BAFTA film awards, Sentimental Value is continuing to show in UK cinemas.

Nora, a successful stage actress, reunites with her estranged father, Gustav Borg—a once-renowned film director planning a comeback with a script based on their family. When Gustav offers Nora the lead role, which she promptly declines, he turns his attention to a rising Hollywood starlet instead.

Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes this year, the film reunites director Joachim Trier with Worst Person in the World lead actor Renate Reinsve and writing partner Eskil Vogt. Also starring in the film are Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Anders Danielsen Lie. 

Above: Renate Reinsve & Anders Danielsen Lie in Sentimental Value. Photo: Kasper Tuxen Andersen, courtesy of Mubi.

London, Coronet Theatre, 19-21 February: See Norwegian star Kåre Conradi’s critically acclaimed one-man dramatised lecture about one of Ibsen’s most famous and colourful characters, Peer Gynt at the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill. 

Since discovering the play at 17, Conradi has had a passionate connection with Peer Gynt. In just over an hour, he moves effortlessly between storyteller and the feckless Peer himself to shed new light on Ibsen’s legendary play.

“Conradi is an outstanding actor – there are sudden shifts across a wide expressive range, where Conradi displays his versatility.” – Dagbladet newspaper

Peer Gynt is the story of a charming but lazy and arrogant young man who leaves home to seek his fortune. Embarking on a series of fantastic voyages around the world, he has one incredible adventure after another. This charismatic stripped back performance goes to the core of what makes Ibsen one of the most performed writers in the world.

Photo: Antero Hein

▶ Máret Ánne Sara's commission for Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, Goavve-Geabbil, is on view until 6 April 2026.

▶ Featuring over 150 works by 100 artists from the Nordic countries, Nordic Noir: Works on Paper from Edvard Munch to Mamma Andersson is on view at the British Museum until 22 March 2026.

▶ Works by Anawana Haloba are on view as part of Artes Mundi 11 at Aberystwyth Arts Centre & National Museum Cardiff, until March 1, 2026.

▶ Sentimental Value continues its run in UK cinemas.


▶ 10 January, London

Connecting the Scottish and Norwegian seaway via a message in a bottle, Flaskepost by Norwegian composer Tine Surel Lange has its London Premiere as part of a contemporary chamber concert at LSO St Luke's.


▶ 16 January, London

Stian Westerhus and Maja Ratkje are performing music from their collaboration 'All Losses are Restored' at Cafe OTO.


▶ 17 January, Belfast

Malin Pettersen is one of the showcase artists at Your Roots are Showing folk conference.


▶ 23 January, London

Progressive metal group AVKRVST are playing Downstairs at The Dome in Tufnell Park.


▶ 27 January - 12 March, dates across the UK

Thor Stenhaug is bringing his One Night Stand Baby Tour to more dates across the UK.


▶ 5 February, London

Anna of the North is performing at the Islington Assembly Hall, days after her concert on the main stage at Oslo's Opera House.


▶ 19 - 21 February, London

See Norwegian star Kåre Conradi’s critically acclaimed one-man dramatised lecture about one of Ibsen’s most famous and colourful characters, Peer Gynt at the Coronet Theatre. The charismatic stripped back performance goes to the core of what makes Ibsen one of the most performed writers in the world.

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