Repeated times I've felt proud of Magne Furuholmen, and what he has achieved, a-ha bandmate Morten Harket tells Budstikka.

Harket adds that he is impressed by what Magne has done as an artist, and how he has managed it.

- This time he's broken away from his previous expression, but I can see that it's still recognizable, this form of expression can be interpreted as a parallel direction, Harket says.

By saying that, he gives a clear signal that he has followed what his buddy has done in other forms of art besides music.

Budstikka meets Harket as he visits Galleri Trafo to attend the opening of Magne's big separate exhibition entitled "Monologues".

- Are you a bit envious?

- No, I'm happy for Magne. I would probably do something completely different if I was to work with something besides music. I really respect being able to go from being a pop star, with the status implied, and do like Magne: enter into unknown terrain. Where he defines his new role, gets accepted into [the world of] arts, takes the challenge. Receives recognition there as well. You need a great deal of determination to achieve that. And that says a lot about

Magne as a multi-talented artist; that he's able to create room for this as well, Morten Harket says.

- Magne Furuholmen moved [back] to Asker 15 years ago, while you have moved away from the area where you grew up. Are you coming back?

- I still consider Asker my home. That's where I still have a lot of my family. But I spent the first five years of my life in Kongsberg, so that has also influenced me. I'm sure psychologists can say a lot about that, he says with a wide grin.

But he doesn't give any solid answers about moving back to Asker.

It seemed like Morten Harket enjoyed himself in good company at Galleri Trafo this Saturday.

He got to meet several other acquaintances, and mutual friends of Magne Furuholmen. Such as Bjørn Eidsvåg and minister of culture Trond Giske, and many other well-known people from the Norwegian culture scene.