Baktruppen was an artist collective from 1986 to 2011 that was founded in Bergen, Norway. The group had a substantial impact on European live art.
The performative work of Baktruppen consisted of theatre and dance performances, performance art, invisible theatre, video art, radio programs, sound art, site specific art, and politically motivated actions.
Theatre historian Knut Ove Arntzen in the book Performance Art by Baktruppen, first part (kontur 2009) explains: "Baktruppen is known for their irony and playing with avantgardistic approaches to theatre and performance art. They may even be perceived as having transgressed the avant-garde!" The name of the company means the opposite of avant-garde, something like “rear troop,” or somebody walking behind a military advancement. Because the troupe is avant garde, the name was ironic. Baktruppen's point was to recycle aspects of the classical avant-garde in a postmodern perspective, which was their point of departure.
Baktruppen was marked by artistic research going beyond the aesthetics and towards a social space. Baktruppen questioned the idea of ritual in theatre, and introduced the ambient space with a playful and ironic approach to the postmodern. Play became a frame for communication with the audience, and a point of departure for a deconstructivist view of the world expressed through their art. Notions of "professionalism" and "dilettantism" were questioned. One of the main intentions was that people joining productions should mix their talents and skills into a non-hierarchical working process of a collective kind.
Exaggeration and confusion are aspects that characterise Baktruppen's work. The troupe constantly positioned itself in the uncertain gap between the known and the unknown and operated with a dual awareness where they toyed with the distinctions between play/seriousness, fiction/reality, center/periphery, and different identities. One may say that Baktruppen's work reflects the carnivalesque in a postmodern form.
Selected works FIRST WAFFLE, THEN MORALITY (2010) On Friday Baktruppen buried the dog. Sunday before mass the church dug it up again. God knows where it is now. Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam / Netherlands. BAKTRÜPPEN LIGHT METAL BAND (2009) Baktruppen as Viking daoists of europunk talking about the 2008 financial crisis. Stamsund International Theatre Festival / Norway, Hanoi Sound Stuff-Greener Music Festival /Vietnam, Van Ho Exhibition Center / Vietnam. Asia Tour (2008): Happy Monday, Bangkok / Thailand, Night and Day / Singapore, Velvet Underground, Taipei / Taiwan, Dreamer House, Xiamen/ China, Ninliho Gallery, Foshan/ China, MoCa Space, Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art / China, Oxwarehouse, Macao / China. Storåsfestival / Norway. BAKKANALEN (2008) Baktruppen presented Bakkanale crew and Baktrüppen Light Metal Band in an eighteen Man Band Baktruppen Forever Show. New and new versions of Baktruppen Performances: Germania Tod in Berlin, Tonight, When We Dead Awake, Come On Everybody, Good Good Very Good & Super-Per. Black Box Theatre, Oslo. Co-producer: Black Box. Org. Baktruppen. BAKTRUPPEN EVALUATION TEAM (2008) European Centre for the Arts Hellerau, Dresden. In order to measure and increase the value of the festival as a whole, BAKTRUPPEN EVALUATION TEAM created a Money Pool. The audience was asked to help us find the Gross Artistic Product (GAP) by giving one € to one of the 22 performances. Then Baktruppen levered this value by 10 and painted a piece of the diagram blue. To color the pool and to help them choose, thereby making the GAP grow, we gave resymées from the 21 other performances, and spoke about money matters, our universal unit of measurement. All in all, the audience gave €99, triggering €990 from Baktruppen, which make a GAP of €1.089, the sum total given back to the festival. THE YEAR OF THE BUSH (2006) Celebrating The Year of The Bush. Dælenenggata 31, Oslo / Norway. UN-DO-THREE (2005) Third part of Baktruppen's dance trilogy. Developed at Kampnagel, Hamburg / Germany. Continental Breakfast Tallinn- NU Performance Festival, Tallinn / Estonia. DARIO FO'S CORPS FOR SALE (2005) Baktruppen cancel their jubilee show about Norway and play instead Dario Fo's Corps For Sale. Karlstad Stadsteater, Karlstad / Sweden, Kulturhuset Stockholm / Sweden, Ålesund Theatre Festival / Norway, Black Box Theatre, Oslo / Norway, Teaterhuset Avantgarden, Trondheim / Norway, BIT- Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway. DELIA COMMEDIA (2004) Steirischer Herbst, Graz / Austria. PS 122, New York /USA, Nordic Excellence, Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival / Sweden, Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster / UK, Bowen West Theatre, Bedford / UK, Black Box Theatre, Oslo / Norway, CCA, Glasgow / Scotland, Rui Hortas Centro Coreográfico de Montemor-o-Novo / Portugal, Dansens Dag, Moderna Dansteatern, Stockholm / Sweden, Nordic Excellence, Kulturhuset, Stockholm / Sweden. Co-producer: Autonnale Bergen Contemporary Music Festival. Rui Hortas Centro Coreográfico de Montemor – o Novo /Portugal. STAMSUND GALLUP POLL (2004) As a result of the poll a two and a half meter tall wooden sculpture made by Baktruppen was given to the people in Stamsund to decide its name and if they wanted it to stand ON LAND or be thrown IN THE OCEAN. The sculpture was wanted ON LAND by 95% and was named THE TOURIST. Coastal Ferry Quay, Stamsund, Lofoten / Norway. FUNNY SORRY JESUS (2003) Bread, red wine and Jesus. Rosa Luxemburg strasse 24, Berlin / Germany Org.: Sophiensæle Kunstbanken, Hamar / Norway, BIT – Teatergarasjen, Teatergaten, Bergen / Norway, Teaterhuset Avantgarden, Trondheim / Norway, Dæhlenenggata, Oslo / Norway, Tou Scene, Stavanger / Norway, Limelight, Kortrijk / Belgium. FUNNYSORRY (2002) Modernism, fossils, Adam&Eve. Dælenenggata 31, Oslo / Norway. DO & UNDO (2002) Baktruppen do and undo knots and unknots during three entrances, two exits and one turning point. Steirischer Herbst, Graz / Austria, PS 122, New York /USA, Nordic Excellence, Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival / Sweden, Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster / UK, Bowen West Theatre, Bedford / UK, Black Box Theatre, Oslo / Norway, CCA, Glasgow / Scotland, Nordic Excellence, Kulturhuset, Stockholm / Sweden. Autonnale / BIT – Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway, Uganda National Theatre, Kampala / Uganda, Perfect Performance Festival, Stockholm / Sweden, Parkteateret, Oslo / Norway, Stamsund International Theatre Festival / Norway, Kunstbanken, Hamar / Norway, Limelight, Kortrijk / Belgium, Montemor-o-Novo Theatre, City Hall / Portugal, Norwegian Touring Exhibitions, Morokulien, border of Norway/Sweden. Co-producer: Autonnale Bergen Contemporary Music Festival. Rui Hortas Centro Coreográfico de Montemor – o Novo /Portugal. GREAT EUROPEAN BATTLES (2002) Baktruppen Camp Kortrijk Uncover Operation (BACKUNCOP). Site Specific, Limelight, Kortrijk / Belgium WARTE NUR! (2002) BALD KOMMT DIE GANZE GESICHTE VON IDENTITÄT UND IDENTITOT Live radio play performed body painted as animals. Transferred to Germany by Deutschland Radio / Bayeriches Rundfunk, and streamed to Bergen, Toronto and Barcelona. ZKM, Karlsruhe / Germany HOMO EGG EGG (2002) The identity, difference and evolution of mankind including the Neanderthals. Teglverksgata, Oslo / Norway, Kaaitheater, Brussel / Belgium, Perfect Performance, Stockholm / Sweden, BIT – Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway. LIEBESTOD (2001) Biljana Srbljanovic's play «Pad» slaughtered by Baktruppen. Stavanger International Festival of Literature / Norway OLD TIME FFWD (2001) Baktruppen's CV performed in fast forward mode. M/S Vesterålen between Rørvik-Brønnøysund. M/S Vesterålen between Svolvær-Stokmarknes / Norway, Music Factory, Bergen / Norway. QUALITYSMASHING (2000) Smashing quality and a Mitsubishi at The Norwegian Council of Cultural Affairs’ conference about art and quality, Grieghallen, Bergen / Norway. EUROHÆ? (2000) The author Dag Solstad went from Moscow to Dublin. Based on his reports, Baktruppen made a floppy horror show about Europe. BIT – Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway, Gøteborggata 27, Oslo / Norway, Høvleriet, Haugesund / Norway, Norwegian Literature Festival, Lillehammer / Norway, Kunstbanken, Hamar / Norway, Teaterhuset Avantgarden, Trondheim / Norway, M/S Vesterålen Rørvik-Brønnøysund, M/S Vesterålen Svolvær-Stokmarknes, Tromsø Kunstforening, Grenland Friteteater, Porsgrunn, Black Box Theatre, Oslo / Norway, Von Krahli Teater, Tallinn / Estonia, Homo Novus Festival, Riga / Latvia, Amorph 01, Helsinki, Kultuurihusi Gloria / Finland, Turku Art Academy / Finland, Localmotives, Stavanger / Norway, Kampnagel, Hamburg / Germany Co.prod.: Baktruppen, BIT, Cultural City of Bergen 2000. STYLE IS KING (1999) International hip hop event. Graffiti, rap, break from Bronx to Oslo. Stretch and G9, Brenneriveien, Oslo / Norway. Writers: USA: Wane, Dash, Sebar, , Virus, Denmark: Bates, Side, Sweden: Tariq, Norway: Goal, Coderock, Pay2, Sean. Rappers: Petter (Sweden), Pen Jakke (N), various artists from Tee Production. BAKTRUPPEN AS WALL (1999) In the absence of legal wall space for graffiti, Baktruppen dressed in white and acted as wall for writer Goal outside the Oslo Courthouse / Norway. VERY GOOD (1999) Cheers to alcohol, fat, the Sami people and the Chinese. Helsinki Act, Theatre Corner / Finland, Panacea, Stadsteatern, Stockholm / Sweden, Podewil, Berlin / Germany, Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt / Germany, Reykjavik Nordic House / Iceland, Baltoscandal Festival Rakvere / Estland, Capitals, Modern Art Centre, Lisboa / Portugal, SPECT (1999) 3D wild style body graffiti on sleeping pills. Samtidskunstforum, Oslo / Norway, 21. Norddeutche Theatertreffen, Theater Lübeck / Germany, Helsinki Act '99, Helsinki / Finland, BIT – Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway, Stretch, Oslo / Norway, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt / Germany, Museum for Contemporary Arts, Oslo / Norway, ICA, London / UK, Teaterhuset Avantgarden, Trondheim / Norway. KVAKK (1998) Contemporary agricultural theatre about the breeding ox Storm Kvakkestad. Chapter Art Centre, Iconoclastic Theatre Season, Cardiff / UK, Samtidskunstforum Art Gallery, Oslo / Norway, 21. Norddeutche Theatertreffen, Theater Lübeck / Germany, Helsinki Act-99, Theatre Corner / Finland, Theatertextcontext BIT – teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norway, Kvakk in the field, Tynes Nedre, Levanger / Norway. PERFECT HAPPINESS (1998) Baktruppen tell Chinese stories while Zhou Huilin og Zhang Zhulian play Chinese music in an exhibition of ancient Chinese art. Cultural City of Bergen 2000, Museum of Industrial Arts, Bergen / Norway. GOOD GOOD VERY GOOD (1997) Cheers to alcohol, The Sami People and The Chinese. In co-op. with L&O Amsterdam. BIT Teatergarasjen, Bergen / Norge, Expo Zaal, De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam / Netherlands, STUC, Leuven / Belgium, Limelight, Kortrijk / Belgium, Fellessentralen Art Event, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Smutthullet, Alta, Porsanger Vertshus, Lakselv, Bakteharji, Kautokeino, Kulturhuset, Karasjok, Malmklang, Kirkenes, M/S Midnatsol, Tromsø Kunstforening / Norway. Co-prod.: Baktruppen, STUC, Das TAT, L&O Amsterdam, BIT Teatergarasjen and EU's Caleidoscope. COME ON EVERYBODY (1997) Music for alcoholics. Songs from the CD Come On Everybody performed live. Hordaland Prosjektgalleri «Nye møte», Bergen Kunstforening / Norway, «ZOOM», Zoolounge, Oslo / Norway. GOOD (1996) Erik Balke's unpaid bills exhibited and sold. Galleri Struts, Oslo / Norway. VERY (1996) Antipodal dance theater about the Sami people and the Chinese. Galleri Otto Plonk, Bergen / Norway. GOOD (1996) Music for Alcoholics. Warm up concert for Mike Kelley, Paul McCarthy and Extended Noise. UKS / Oslo Rock Festival, Stratos, Oslo / Norway WE AGREE (1995) Street demonstration, Hong Kong / Hong Kong. BAKTRUPPEN POLISHES THE TROPHES OF SONJA HENIE (1995)