The dream lived – opening of the exhibition Ragnar Thorseth – Lived Life part two.

Harald Stanghelle, political editor at Aftenposten and a good friend of Thorseth, was in charge of the official opening. He thought it was great that Ragnar is joining the tradition that is kept alive at the museum. Ragnar is, and has always been, an individualist who goes his own way, both as an expedition leader, polar explorer, adventurer, journalist and as a Sunnmøring. His expeditions have an individual character and individual starting point, but they all have a common thread: adventure, breaking boundaries, showing that what seems impossible can be made possible. Stanghelle singled out Saga Siglar as the most significant expedition scientifically. Saga Siglar was the first reconstruction of merchant ships from the Viking Age, which showed that it was possible to cross the world's oceans. In addition to an enormous sense of adventure, Thorseth also has a knack for "timing". Being in the right place at the right time. He has linked expeditions to anniversary years, and not least environmental summits, and in this way he has helped to make historical events visible to newer generations.

Stanghelle called Thorseth a realistic phantasm. He has faced much adversity, but is resilient. He has proven that solid preparations yield results. In 1969, Ragnar was 21 years old, and was to row to Shetland. It was the first expedition he set out on, and it was in many ways a sign of the future. The expedition meant a lot to the life that is on display at the museum today. The rowing trip was a dream, an idea, but also proof that Thorseth built a bridge between dream and result. 500 years after the Shetland Islands were given away to Great Britain, the British queen stood and greeted Ragnar on the quay when he arrived. She said one thing: "You are crazy!" Today he regrets that he did not answer "It takes a fool to know a fool". But Stanghelle emphasizes the seriousness of the successful expedition to Shetland: Ragnar Thorseth was one of the few who had the strength to carry it out. Will was the cornerstone. And now the ring is over, Ragnar has come home. He gets to help open his own exhibition at the museum, and then joins the ranks of Norwegian legends on a par with Thor Heyerdahl. Thorseth is one of the few who has the ability to see the possible in the imagination, and the wonderful in the practical. Here at the Ishavsmuseet you can see the dream lived. Stanghelle hopes the exhibition can help inspire others, and especially young people who need dreams. We need the dream, says Harald.

Mayor of Hareid Municipality, Anders Rise, was also present at the opening. He thanks Thorseth for choosing to have his exhibition at Ishavsmuseet, which means a lot to the municipality. With this exhibition, he proves that the museum has national status in polar history. Rise also includes a greeting from former President of Iceland, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who, together with Queen Sonja, was a great supporter of Ragnar during the Gaya expedition.

An exhibition as extensive as "Levd Liv" needs skilled people who are committed to making the exhibition professional and real. The company that designed the exhibition is Medicine Head, with Trond Nordahl at the helm. Trond says that he was very skeptical at first. There was little money, but Thorseth himself was supposed to get it in place. After a couple of days, Trond received a package in the mail from Ragnar, his book "The Last Viking". Inside it said: "Trond Nordahl, read and learn. Ragnar." In short. After two days the book was finished and Nordahl was convinced. After a while he came up to live with Thorseth, to really get under the skin of the adventurer.

Ragnar Thorseth, today's main character, says that getting the exhibition in place was almost like returning to the time of the expedition. He feels at home at the Ishavsmuseet. But it has been expensive, and it was not always easy to raise funds. Many said that they prioritized children and young people, but Thorseth believes that this exhibition is precisely for children and young people. He hopes that many are inspired, that his story makes people dream for themselves. One should not be afraid to go out into the world, to dream. But one does not have to take the North Pole as the first trip, smiles Ragnar.