BODIES OF EXTRACTION
is an artistic research project reviving the spectres in Knaben, Norway. The material molybdenum was the purpose of the Nazi occupation in Knaben during World War II, which was for its properties of adding flexibility and strength when merged with steel. The production was an important target to be able to have advantage on military technology, such as artillery and tanks. To fuel the war machine, the production rate had been almost doubled through forced labour, as Knaben was one out of two mines in Europe which was known to contain molybdenum. The workers had received letters of employment of which they had no option, either leaving or bringing their families along.
The final decision of the British Mosquito bombing attack in March 3rd 1943 remains well buried in the archival documents, where 16 norwegian workers, 5 soviet prisoners of war, and 1 german soldier had died. After the attack the soviet prisoners were forced to clear out the remaining timed bombs, in which they detonated. A total of 18 workers were severly wounded. While seeing numbers are common while researching histories of war, in this project, highlighting lived personal narratives and emotions have become central.
In more recent years, the mines in Knaben have been deemed too non-profitable to be of use and was last in production in 1973. Molybdenum has become a commodified material commonly used in the production of stainless steel, industrial steel and as a machinery lubricant.
BODIES OF EXTRACTION emphasises on mediating past events of topics which are just as relevant to discuss today. The project will look at how science and technology during war spurs violence in relation to bodies of landscapes, material and humans.