Salamander Night, wierd art in a bank basement

Walk down a winding staircase from an ordinary bank building and you are greeted with an exhibition of ruins of an old church, including a skeleton, which is worth a look in itself. To your left a nondescript wooden box of 14 x 7 meters can be entered through a narrow doorway with a heavy curtain sealing out all light inside. As your eyes adjust to the dark you will get the feeling that someone is watching you! Fight the chill down your spine and the strong temptation to get out of there! If you stick to it a feeling of solemnity emerges. Walk forward to Mother earth with a salamander at her breast.

A darkened art installation in the basement of Sparebank1 Midt-Norge situated in Søndre gate, across the street from Trondheim Kunsthall. ‘Salamandernatten’ (Salamander night) was created for the São Paulo Art Biennial in Brazil by artist Kjell Erik Killi Olsen in 1989. It consists of 72  three meter high sculptures. 600,000 people saw the work while it was displayed there. After 16 years in storage it is permanently installed in its current location.

It’s best to go in alone, to experience the full impact of the place, otherwise you might divert your attention to your nervous companions.