india mahdavi to revive historic post office as PoMo art museum in norway

pomo museum to open in trondheim, norway

Opening on 15 February 2025, PoMo is a new museum in Trondheim, Norway, that will bring international modern and contemporary art to the coastal city through a permanent collection and an evolving program of temporary exhibitions. Her first museum project, architect and designer India Mahdavi will thoughfully transform Trondheim’s Art Nouveau Post Office building into a 4,000 sqm new landmark over five floors, in collaboration with Norwegian architect Erik Langdalen. PoMo will open with a group exhibition titled ‘Postcards from the Future’, running February 15th – June 22nd, 2025.

The museum will showcase its collection through permanent displays and two large-scale annual exhibitions, including solo presentations and thematic surveys. Guest curators will collaborate with PoMo’s team to bring fresh perspectives, and an international lending program will foster collaboration. Events and talks will contextualize the exhibitions, and an education program will engage children, youth, and adults, with partnerships planned with research institutions and universities.

Ugo Rondinone, our magic hour, 2003. PoMo collection, © Ugo Rondinone | image by Terje Trobe

a collaboration between india mahdvai and erik Langdalen

Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi is embarking on her first museum project with the development and renovation process of PoMo. Tasked with developing a vision for the museum in partnership with architect Erik Langdalen, Mahdavi has applied her signature approach to transform the historic building, built in 1911, into a contemporary space. PoMo will include three storeys of exhibition galleries, to house both temporary exhibitions and permanent collection displays; a fluid and welcoming entry space designed to break down barriers between street, museum and artworks; flexible basement spaces dedicated to events and education; a library and research space in the eaves of the building; and a reception room and office space on the top floor.

Drawing inspiration from Trondheim’s cityscape and history, as well as Norwegian folk art and craftsmanship, and the legacy of the old post office building, India Mahdavi has designed a vibrant and joyful renovation that celebrates in-between areas as much as exhibition spaces: bold, colorful moments will punctuate PoMo from the basement to the fourth floor, often activated by artworks from the permanent collection. ‘I wanted this museum to feel inviting and inclusive, engaging both the local community and the international art crowd. It’s about reconnecting the local community with the city centre and their own history, while simultaneously offering a fresh experience that welcomes the world.‘

illustration © India Mahdavi

Known for his thoughtful restoration and conservation projects, Erik Langdalen’s design for PoMo will allow history to speak, whilst focusing on the future. Sustainability is at the forefront of Langdalen’s approach, focusing on the rehabilitation and re-use of historic and pre-existing buildings in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create historical anchoring and increase social commitment. ‘When we were engaged in 2021, I immediately understood what potential the old main post office had as the setting for a new ambitious art museum like PoMo. The work of weaving the distinctive Art Nouveau architecture together with new architecture and new technological solutions has been very professionally engaging, and has resulted in a number of unique spaces for future art experiences.’

The India Mahdavi-designed PoMo will launch with Postcards from the Future, a group exhibition featuring approximately 100 works by 24 international artists from its new permanent collection and significant international loans. Spanning all three exhibition floors, the show draws inspiration from the building’s history as Trondheim’s former central Post Office, using the postcard as a thematic metaphor. Like artworks, postcards serve as vessels for public and private storytelling. The exhibition will include pieces from the PoMo Collection alongside notable works by artists such as Fischli & Weiss, Isa Genzken, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Catherine Opie, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Susan Rothenberg, Andy Warhol, and Monira Al Qadiri.

The PoMo Collection, initiated by Monica and Ole Robert Reitan and featuring artworks from REITAN’s collection, focuses on diversity, originality, and international representation. To address gender inequality in museum collections, at least 60% of its acquisitions are dedicated to women artists. The collection includes works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Katharina Fritsch, Simone Leigh, and Sol LeWitt.