Woman Cleaning National Identity, Hardanger (Norway) 2014
By Gitte Sætre
Woman Cleaning National Identity was produced to a specific project 'Between Heaven and Fjord; LOOK!'(Himmel og Fjord; SJÅ). Norwegian and international artists were invited every year over a period of 3 years to produce an artwork commenting on the landscape and what it beholds. Produced by the artist Organization Harding Puls. Curated by Kjell-Erik Ruud.
I was the first person, and probably the last one, to be able to climb the inner staircase to get on top of the Hanger Bridge. It felt like I was standing on the top of the world, or at least on top of my countries constructed identity.
The mountains and fjords in Hardanger are the centers of our national identity. Artist like J. C. Dahl, Peder Balke, Hans Gude and Adolph Tidemand portrayed this landscape and their work were central elements in building the national identity of Norway. Portraying nature, was as in Germany and England central in romantic art, however in Norway, the interest of the nation came to overshadow the personal, individual relationship with nature. Probably related to our national situation that led to the union resolution with Denmark in 1814. One felt the need to mark the national character, and nature was in the first place the natural orientation scene.
Woman Cleaning National Identity was produced 200 years after this historical period. And while I was standing there overlooking the landscape, all the cars below me, the newly constructed bridge build by foreign workers on questionable contracts, overlooking likewise questionable salmon farms and cruise ships entering up and down the fjords. I wanted to tell the story of how nature has lost it position to geo-capital. The sky was still blue, it was still beautiful and I could still feel some kind of national proudness, but I was not sure if that was a good or bad thing.
By Gitte Sætre
Woman Cleaning National Identity was produced to a specific project 'Between Heaven and Fjord; LOOK!'(Himmel og Fjord; SJÅ). Norwegian and international artists were invited every year over a period of 3 years to produce an artwork commenting on the landscape and what it beholds. Produced by the artist Organization Harding Puls. Curated by Kjell-Erik Ruud.
I was the first person, and probably the last one, to be able to climb the inner staircase to get on top of the Hanger Bridge. It felt like I was standing on the top of the world, or at least on top of my countries constructed identity.
The mountains and fjords in Hardanger are the centers of our national identity. Artist like J. C. Dahl, Peder Balke, Hans Gude and Adolph Tidemand portrayed this landscape and their work were central elements in building the national identity of Norway. Portraying nature, was as in Germany and England central in romantic art, however in Norway, the interest of the nation came to overshadow the personal, individual relationship with nature. Probably related to our national situation that led to the union resolution with Denmark in 1814. One felt the need to mark the national character, and nature was in the first place the natural orientation scene.
Woman Cleaning National Identity was produced 200 years after this historical period. And while I was standing there overlooking the landscape, all the cars below me, the newly constructed bridge build by foreign workers on questionable contracts, overlooking likewise questionable salmon farms and cruise ships entering up and down the fjords. I wanted to tell the story of how nature has lost it position to geo-capital. The sky was still blue, it was still beautiful and I could still feel some kind of national proudness, but I was not sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Woman Cleaning National Identity, Copenhagen 2014
By Gitte Sætre
I was invited to make a work to a Norwegian and Danish group show during the year of the constitution in 2014.
It did not only mark the birth of the new Norwegian nation-state, but also the end of the 434 year-long community with Denmark.
The work was shown at Kongernes Lapidarium at Christian 4.s Bryghus in Copenhagen and in Bomuldsfabriken in Arendal.
And if you follow this link you can read more if you like...
https://bomuldsfabriken.no/bomuld_program/skilsmissen/
By Gitte Sætre
I was invited to make a work to a Norwegian and Danish group show during the year of the constitution in 2014.
It did not only mark the birth of the new Norwegian nation-state, but also the end of the 434 year-long community with Denmark.
The work was shown at Kongernes Lapidarium at Christian 4.s Bryghus in Copenhagen and in Bomuldsfabriken in Arendal.
And if you follow this link you can read more if you like...
https://bomuldsfabriken.no/bomuld_program/skilsmissen/