Kan du snakke norsk 
2015 - 2018
Durational-performance  
Oslo, Norway
 

This series of performances took place in different parts of Oslo between 2015 and 2018. In each one, Berhane stood quietly beside a cash machine for about forty-five minutes, holding an umbrella without speaking or explaining. His presence was calm and silent as people passed by, some curious, others confused, and many simply ignoring him.
 

The work grew out of his personal experience after moving from Ethiopia to Norway in 2014. As a new student at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, he faced the challenge of adjusting to a new country while struggling with financial pressure. Being a self-financed student in one of the most expensive countries in the world was not easy. Students have a chance to work part-time to support themselves, but Berhane could not find a job for the first nine months after his arrival. This period of frustration and uncertainty became the starting point for the performance. Standing beside the cash machine turned into a quiet reflection on money, survival, and belonging.
 

The umbrella in his hand was a simple yet important element of his performance. It symbolized protection and care, while in a traditional sense, it represented dignity and power. It is related to the wider idea of safety, reflecting what it means to live a new life and face scarcity, uncertainty, and financial struggles, much like the situation Berhane is in.

Each location, each encounter, added a layer to the work. People passed by, some watched, some were curious, some were scared to use the machines, some were angry, and others ignored him completely. The quiet act of standing by machines that define access to money raised questions about value, worth, and visibility.

Through this performance, he wanted to bring attention to the quiet struggles many newcomers face. It was not about protest but about being there, about presence as a way of existing within.

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