Steffen Kverneland: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:10, 28 December 2024

Steffen Kverneland (born 14 January 1963) is a Norwegian illustrator and comics writer, known for his adaptations of classical literature into comic format. Born in Haugesund, Kverneland relocated to Oslo in 1987. His work is distinguished by a mix of humor and deep respect for source material, and he has received critical acclaim for his graphic biographies and "amputated classics" series.

Early Life and Career

Kverneland began publishing comics at an early age. His first comic strip, Peer Grynt, was featured in the magazine Konk in 1980 when he was just 16 years old. In 1982, his strip Den moderne Odysseen, featuring the character "Karsten Zarathustra," was published in the magazine Brage under the pseudonym "S. Susej." Between 1989 and 1991, Kverneland contributed various comic strips to Norsk MAD, including Rotta Rolf, Ynglinge Saga, and Trikkekonduktøren. He also contributed illustrations and comics to publications such as Dagbladet, Dag og Tid, Vagant, and Inside Data.

Key Works

Adaptations of Classical Literature

Kverneland is best known for adapting classical literary works into comic strips and albums. His debut album, De knyttede never (1993), is based on Øvre Richter Frich's 1911 action novel about the character Jonas Fjeld, an athletic physician and adventurer. The work was serialized in the magazine TEGN beginning in 1991 and received the Sproing Award for Best Norwegian Comic in 1993. During the creation of the album, Kverneland conducted extensive historical research to accurately depict the settings, costumes, and architecture of the period.

He also developed the "amputated classics" series (Amputerte klassikere), a humorous take on classical literature. The series includes:

Amputerte klassikere (1994)
Amputerte klassikere II (1996)
Amputerte klassikere III (1999)
Amputerte klassikere IV (2001)

In 2001, he published Garborg & co, further showcasing his ability to reinterpret literary works in comic form.

Collaborations

Kverneland collaborated with artist Lars Fiske on the biography Olaf G. (2004), about Norwegian cartoonist Olaf Gulbransson. The work won multiple awards, including the Sproing Award for Best Norwegian Comic of 2004, and was translated into German and Swedish, with the latter earning the Swedish comics award Urhunden in 2008.

Their subsequent collaboration, the Kanon series (2006 onwards), focused on comics biographies of painters such as Kurt Schwitters and Edvard Munch. The third volume, Kanon 3, received the Sproing Award in 2009.

Munch

In 2013, Kverneland published Munch, a biographical comic book about the life of the painter Edvard Munch. The book, based on material from the Kanon series, earned him the prestigious Brage Prize for Non-Fiction. Supported by NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), Munch has been translated into several languages, including French, Dutch, German, Polish, Danish, and Korean.

Awards and Recognition

Kverneland has received numerous accolades for his contributions to comics and literature, including:

Sproing Award for De knyttede never (1993)
Sproing Award for Olaf G. (2004)
Urhunden Award for Olaf G. (2008, Swedish translation)
Sproing Award for Kanon 3 (2009)
Brage Prize for Non-Fiction for Munch (2013)

Legacy and Impact

Steffen Kverneland has been celebrated for his ability to merge visual storytelling with literary depth, bringing classical works to new audiences. His meticulous research and innovative adaptations have solidified his reputation as one of Norway's leading comic artists and illustrators.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Norwegian illustrator and comics writer (born 1963)}}
+[[File:Steffen Kverneland self portrait.jpg|alt=Steffen Kverneland |thumb|Steffen Kverneland]]
-{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
+'''Steffen Kverneland''' (born 14 January 1963) is a Norwegian [[illustrator]] and [[comics writer]], known for his adaptations of classical literature into [[comic]] format. Born in Haugesund, Kverneland relocated to Oslo in 1987. His work is distinguished by a mix of humor and deep respect for source material, and he has received critical acclaim for his graphic biographies and "amputated classics" series.
-{{Infobox person
-|name        = Steffen Kverneland
-|image       = Steffen Kverneland self portrait.jpg
-|image_size  =
-|caption     = Steffen Kverneland, self portrait
-|birth_name  =
-|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age |1963|1|14|df=y}}
-|birth_place = [[Haugesund]], Norway
-|death_date  =
-|death_place =
-|nationality = Norwegian
-|occupation  = Illustrator and comics writer
-|awards      = [[Sproing Award]]<br>[[Urhunden Prizes|Urhunden]]<br>[[Brage Prize]] for non-fiction
-}}
-'''Steffen Kverneland''' (born 14 January 1963) is a Norwegian illustrator and comics writer. He was born in [[Haugesund]], and settled in [[Oslo]] from 1987.<ref name=tegn47/>
+== Early Life and Career ==
-He has specialized on creating comics series based on classical literature. Among his early albums are ''De knyttede never'' from 1993 based on a novel by [[Øvre Richter Frich]], and four volumes of '' Amputerte klassikere''.<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Steffen Kverneland |first1=Jon |last1=Gisle |authorlink1=Jon Gisle |first2=Øyvind |last2=Holen |authorlink2=Øyvind Holen |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |editor-last=Godal | editor-first=Anne Marit | editor-link=Anne Marit Godal |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/Steffen_Kverneland |language=Norwegian|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref>
+Kverneland began publishing comics at an early age. His first comic strip, ''[[Peer Grynt]]'', was featured in the magazine ''[[Konk]]'' in 1980 when he was just 16 years old. In 1982, his strip ''[[Den moderne Odysseen]]'', featuring the character "[[Karsten Zarathustra]]," was published in the magazine ''Brage'' under the pseudonym "S. Susej." Between 1989 and 1991, Kverneland contributed various comic strips to ''[[Norsk MAD]]'', including ''Rotta Rolf'', ''Ynglinge Saga'', and ''Trikkekonduktøren''. He also contributed illustrations and comics to publications such as ''Dagbladet'', ''Dag og Tid'', ''Vagant'', and ''Inside Data''.[[File:Steffen Kverneland De knyttede never.jpg|thumb|right |261x261px|Front cover of the comics album ''De knyttede never'' from 1993.]][[File:Steffen Kverneland Amputerte klassikere II.jpg|thumb|right |225x225px|Front cover of the comics album ''Amputerte klassikere II'' from 1996.[[File:Munch-forside.jpg|thumb|right |235x235px|Front cover of the comics biography ''Munch'' from 2013.]][[File:Steffen Kverneland Olaf G.jpg|thumb|right |221x221px|Front cover of the comics album ''Olaf G.'' from 2004.]]]]
-He was awarded the [[Brage Prize]] for non-fiction in 2013, for the biography ''Munch'',<ref name=brage>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Brageprisen |first=Anne Grete |last=Nilsen |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |editor-last=Godal | editor-first=Anne Marit | editor-link=Anne Marit Godal |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/Brageprisen |language=Norwegian|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref> a collection of his albums based on the life of painter [[Edvard Munch]]. ''Munch'' has been translated into several languages, including French, Dutch, German, Polish, Danish and Korean, supported by [[Norla]], the foundation for Norwegian Literature Abroad.<ref name=snl/>
+== Key Works ==
-==Early publications ==
+=== Adaptations of Classical Literature ===
-Kverneland published the comics strip ''Peer Grynt'' in the magazine ''Konk'' in 1980, when he was sixteen years old. In 1982 his strip ''Den moderne Odysseen'', with the character "Karsten Zarathustra", was published in the magazine ''Brage'', under pen name "S. Susej".<ref name=tegn47>{{cite magazine |magazine=Tegn|title=No compromiso! Et intervju med Steffen Kverneland|first=Matti|last=Riesto|pages=46&ndash;55|language=Norwegian |year=2001|volume=47}}</ref><ref name=tegn2001-1>{{cite magazine |magazine=Tegn|editor-first=Finn |editor-last=Bjørklid |title=Tex Willer, Munch og Steffen Kverneland |first=Tor|last=Sandberg |pages=16&ndash;22|language=Norwegian |year=1991|issue=1}}</ref> During the period 1989-1991 he published various comics strips in the magazine ''Norsk MAD''. Among these were ''Rotta Rolf'', ''Ynglinge Saga'', and ''Trikkekonduktøren''.<ref name=tegn47/> He also contributed to the newspapers ''[[Dagbladet]]'' and ''[[Dag og Tid]]'', and to the magazines ''Vagant'' and ''Inside Data''.<ref name=tegn2001-1/>
+Kverneland is best known for adapting classical literary works into [[comic strips]] and albums. His debut album, ''De knyttede never'' (1993), is based on Øvre Richter Frich's 1911 action novel about the character Jonas Fjeld, an athletic physician and adventurer. The work was serialized in the magazine ''TEGN'' beginning in 1991 and received the Sproing Award for Best Norwegian Comic in 1993. During the creation of the album, Kverneland conducted extensive historical research to accurately depict the settings, costumes, and architecture of the period.
-==Adaptation of literary works==
-Among Kverneland's specialties is the adaptation of classical literary texts into comics strips or albums. His album ''De knyttede never'' was awarded the [[Sproing Award]] in 1993.<ref name=sproing>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Sproing-prisen |first=Øyvind |last=Holen |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |editor-last=Godal | editor-first=Anne Marit | editor-link=Anne Marit Godal |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/Sproing-prisen |language=Norwegian|accessdate=11 December 2014}}</ref> Further, he developed a series of "amputated classics", from 1994 onwards.
-===The clenched fists===
+He also developed the "amputated classics" series (''Amputerte klassikere''), a humorous take on classical literature. The series includes:
-[[File:Steffen Kverneland De knyttede never.jpg|thumb|right |100 px |Front cover of the comics album ''De knyttede never'' from 1993.]]
-''De knyttede never'' ({{langx|en|The clenched fists}}) is an action novel from 1911, written by [[Øvre Richter Frich]]. It is the first of a series of 21 novels about the character "Jonas Fjeld", an athletic physician and adventurer. Kverneland had the first pages of his adaptation published in the magazine ''TEGN'' in 1991.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Tegn|editor-first=Finn |editor-last=Bjørklid |title=De knyttede never. Det gamle hus i Homansbyen |first=Steffen |last=Kverneland |pages=23&ndash;29|language=Norwegian |year=1991|issue=1}}</ref> The album was issued in 1993, and earned him the Sproing Award for best Norwegian comics series in 1993.<ref name=sproing/>
+* ''Amputerte klassikere'' (1994)
+* ''Amputerte klassikere II'' (1996)
+* ''Amputerte klassikere III'' (1999)
+* ''Amputerte klassikere IV'' (2001)
-During the creation process Kverneland had to do some historical research in order to get buildings, interior, clothing, historical setting etc. as correct as possible. He visited [[Bank of Norway]] to prepare for the bank robbery scene, and studied photos of old trains for the scenes from the recently opened [[Bergen Line]]. The "new" City hall, location for a reception held for the South Pole Expedition described in the novel, was pure fictional, as there was no new City Hall in Oslo in 1911.<ref name=tegn26>{{cite magazine |magazine=Tegn|editor-first=Finn |editor-last=Bjørklid |title=Den kubiske helt og hans skaper. Intervju med Steffen Kverneland |first=Tor|last=Sandberg |pages=27&ndash;30|language=Norwegian |year=1993 |volume=26}}</ref>
+In 2001, he published ''Garborg & co'', further showcasing his ability to reinterpret literary works in comic form.
-===Amputated classics===
+=== Collaborations ===
-[[File:Steffen Kverneland Amputerte klassikere II.jpg|thumb|right |100 px |Front cover of the comics album ''Amputerte klassikere II'' from 1996.]]
+Kverneland collaborated with artist Lars Fiske on the biography ''Olaf G.'' (2004), about Norwegian cartoonist Olaf Gulbransson. The work won multiple awards, including the Sproing Award for Best Norwegian Comic of 2004, and was translated into German and Swedish, with the latter earning the Swedish comics award Urhunden in 2008.
-* ''Amputerte klassikere'' (album, 1994)
+Their subsequent collaboration, the ''Kanon'' series (2006 onwards), focused on comics biographies of painters such as Kurt Schwitters and Edvard Munch. The third volume, ''Kanon 3'', received the Sproing Award in 2009.
-* ''Amputerte klassikere II'' (album, 1996)
-* ''Amputerte klassikere III'' (album, 1999)
-* ''Garborg & co'' (2001)
-* ''Amputerte klassikere IV'' (album, 2001)
-==Comics biographies==
+=== Munch ===
-Kverneland received a two years public grant in 2003.
+In 2013, Kverneland published ''[[Munch]]'', a biographical comic book about the life of the painter [[Edvard Munch]]. The book, based on material from the ''Kanon'' series, earned him the prestigious Brage Prize for Non-Fiction. Supported by NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), ''Munch'' has been translated into several languages, including French, Dutch, German, Polish, Danish, and Korean.
-===Olaf Gulbransson===
+== Awards and Recognition ==
-[[File:Steffen Kverneland Olaf G.jpg|thumb|right |100 px |Front cover of the comics album ''Olaf G.'' from 2004.]]
+Kverneland has received numerous accolades for his contributions to comics and literature, including:
-He published the album ''Olaf G. '' in 2004, a cooperation with [[Lars Fiske]]. The album is an adaptation of the biography of illustrator and cartoonist [[Olaf Gulbransson]],<ref name=snl/> and won the Sproing Award for 2004,<ref name=sproing/> in addition to other prizes. It was translated into German language, and the translation into Swedish resulted in the comics award [[Urhunden Prizes|Urhunden]] in 2008.<ref name=snl/>
+* Sproing Award for ''De knyttede never'' (1993)
+* Sproing Award for ''Olaf G.'' (2004)
+* Urhunden Award for ''Olaf G.'' (2008, Swedish translation)
+* Sproing Award for ''Kanon 3'' (2009)
+* Brage Prize for Non-Fiction for ''Munch'' (2013)
-===Edvard Munch===
+== Legacy and Impact ==
-[[File:Munch-forside.jpg|thumb|right |100 px |Front cover of the comics biography ''Munch'' from 2013.]]
+Steffen Kverneland has been celebrated for his ability to merge visual storytelling with literary depth, bringing classical works to new audiences. His meticulous research and innovative adaptations have solidified his reputation as one of Norway's leading comic artists and illustrators.{{DEFAULTSORT:Kverneland, Steffen}}
-The album series ''Kanon'' from 2006 onwards was again a cooperation between Fiske and Kverneland, where they made comics biographies of the painters [[Kurt Schwitters]] and [[Edvard Munch]].<ref name=snl/> The album ''Kanon 3'' earned them the Sproing Award in 2009.<ref name=sproing/> The biographical book ''Munch'' from 2013, based on the ''Kanon'' albums, was awarded the [[Brage Prize]].<ref name=snl/><ref name=brage/>
-==References==
-{{Reflist}}
-{{s-start}}
-{{s-ach|aw}}
-{{succession box|before=[[Torbjørn Færøvik]]|after=[[Marte Michelet]]|title=Recipient of the [[Brage Prize]] for prose|years=2013}}
-{{s-end}}
-{{Authority control}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Kverneland, Steffen}}
 [[Category:1963 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]