Hans Olav Ottersen: Ørjar Øyen, 1983
Ørjar Øyen (1927-) was Professor of Sociology at the University of Bergen from 1968 to 1997, and is now Professor Emeritus. He has worked with ecology, diffusion and population issues, and in later years was increasingly involved in international cooperation and research.
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Øyen was the Dean of the newly established Faculty of Social Sciences 1971-73, and Rector of the University of Bergen from 1978 to -83. From 1988 to -95 he was president of the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik. Øyen has received numerous awards both at home and abroad, including the Western Society of Criminology's President's Award and the Honours Award of the Norwegian Sociology Association. He is a Commander of the Order of St. Olav, and has been awarded Croatia's star order. Ørjar Øyen house at UiB is named after him.
The portrait of Øyen is informal. He is sitting casually in a chair, legs crossed, wearing a short sleeve shirt that is open at the neck. The shirt is blue - is it denim? - and the pants are white. The impression of a summertime scene is enhanced by a bright light coming in from the left; he is probably close to a window. There is no formal evidence of his Rector’s office.
Hans Olav Ottersen (1945 -) was a student of Odd Nerdrum for a while. He is an admirer of the Renaissance artists, and for several years he lived with his family in Assisi, Italy. He is currently residing in Southern Norway. Although Ottersen is primarily a portrait painter, he is also known for his Portrait of Flekkefjord, a large screen print of the southern town.
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