Hege Ullensvang
Artist Statement
I call myself an artist now, but it took years to acknowledge myself as one. I completed the Bachelor's degree of Teacher education in design, arts and crafts at the University of South-Eastern Norway in 1996, but not having a professional art degree, I didn’t consider myself a “real artist” then, even though I worked with different kinds of art expressions. Over the years I’ve come to that it doesn’t really matter how many art degrees we have and how famous and great we are known to be – in my opinion, every piece of art is a contribution to the world.
In March 2020, I had my first “professional” exhibition in an art gallery in my hometown in Norway, Bergen – at exactly the same time as covid hit. My plans of showing my art to the world didn’t exactly work out the way I had planned … But – working with those art pieces, I came to look at myself as quite talented! I now trust in myself, and my art, and I truly enjoy being, and working as, an artist.
I find inspiration in nature, but I am also fascinated by the industrial world and the man-made. Contrast is an important tool and it is fun to play with shapes and colors and experience how they work together. I have a desire to make the chaotic and inaccessible more available – yet, it is always tempting to fracture the known and "restore" chaos. I work with both acrylic paint and collage, using newspaper and magazine clippings.
My vision, both artistically and in all aspects of life, is to the best of my ability, to thrive in my day-to-day life, focus on what feels lighter and what else is possible. Maybe it’s not the easiest thing to do at times, but there sure is great potential for it in creating my art!
What’s your background?
I wasn’t one who knew from the very start that I wanted to be an artist… I didn’t paint or draw more than other kids, and I often liked to just hang around doing nothing or being with my friends doing whatever they did. I was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1972, and art was not a natural part of my childhood. No one in my family was involved in art, I didn’t know any artists and to become an artist myself never crossed my mind. I mean, you had to be a natural talent, like Munch or Leonardo to be an artist, right?! Although I always liked arts and crafts in school, I didn't have any real “artistic urge” until I was in junior high, where we worked with wood, metal and ceramic projects. I really enjoyed those classes, but I never thought that I had any real artistic talent… And I still hadn't figured out “what to become when I grew up”, thinking it would show up by itself at some point. It didn't, and the only thing I had some interest in was arts and crafts. I talked to the school counsellor about it, that maybe studying art would be a good choice for me. They told me I would be better off with a "more normal and safer education", that working as an artist would be challenging in so many ways. I believed them, but didn't let go of my creative interests though. I continued studying arts and crafts in high school, and in 1996, as the "second best choice", I ended up with a bachelor degree in teaching arts and crafts. The college years were truly great in so many ways, with wonderful teachers and fellow students, and the more I learned my interest for visual arts grew. I realized more and more that I had an artist in me, but my degree was in teaching art, not creating art, and I still thought that I could never be a “real” artist. I started teaching in high school, but sadly, due to mental health issues, my career in the school system was a short-lived one. And the following years I made a lot of effort trying to “fix my head”… Because obviously something had to be wrong with me… I tried to figure out a way to fit in and understand the roles and regulations of this reality, so that I could manage my work and earn money as everybody else. But after years in therapy and a lot of breathing in and out and jumping up and down, I had to call it the day. I was done with trying to fit in, trying to figure out what my purpose of living was. And slowly, slowly my creative self could breathe and live again and I realized I wanted to be the artist I’d actually always been, but never have dared to acknowledge and embrace. I’m still not used to calling myself an artist since I don’t have the “proper” art education, but I am. And it will be my pleasure to continue creating my art for the rest of this lifetime!
What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?
I’m truly honored! One thing is that family and friends appreciate my art, but it’s very exciting to know that someone in the Art World "out there" has found my art so interesting that it deserves a prize! Hopefully, because of this, my art will reach a broader audience and be viewed by people worldwide, and that's a pleasant thought! What else is possible now?
What do you think is the role of art in the world today?
I think art has many roles. I see young artists of today who use art as therapy, and for me, being one who’s been looking for a way out of anxiety and depression for years, that really is wonderful to know. I wish that schools, to a greater extent, would use art that way for those kids who find the square system a bit challenging. Art has the power to fascinate and delight and make the world a bit brighter, but it can also provoke and challenge us, forcing us to reconsider what we believe in. Art is still an important testimony of what’s going on in the world and shows other sides and depths of what we call reality. I think one of the most important roles of art today is that it challenges reality, creates new realities and invites us to be open, to explore, expand, and become greater beings here on Earth. Art truly is a contribution to all of us in so many ways.
What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?
I’m not that familiar with how the art world works, with the presenting and promoting, and the buying and selling… On my end of the stick, I'm just creating the art, not thinking very much about where to show it and how to sell it. I wish I was more confident and energetic regarding coming out with my art… that I was more outgoing. But since I am a bit introverted it would be nice if the art world would invite artists like myself to participate in art fairs in our home communities. I’m sure this happens in many places, but in my hometown it’s not a common thing. It would be great if it was easier to be more involved in the art world near me!
What are your most significant professional achievements?
I’m maybe not that young anymore, but my artistic career is still a youth, and I’m not sure if I can say I have any great significant achievements - yet … But one of my works is actually included in The Royal Collection of Norway! On the occasion of Queen Sonja’s 80th birthday in 2017, King Harald surprised Her with the gift of the Royal Stables, now called the Queen Sonja Art Stable. The association “Norwegian graphic artists” invited all graphic artists in Norway, well established as well as hobby-printers, to give one work each for the Queen, in appreciation of Her efforts on behalf of Norwegian art in general and Norwegian graphic art in particular. At that time, I was working with screen-printing, cutting out stencils by hand, and I contributed one of those prints. Altogether 164 works, representing most printmaking techniques, were donated, and they all got included in The Royal Collection … including mine! I’m quite proud of that, and when all the artists were invited for the opening of the Art Stable, I even had a handshake and a little chat with the Queen! So there! How does it get even better than that?
What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?
I always say that my main target with all of my creations is to have a good time in the making of it. That is because I’ve been in the dark and painful realm of angst and depression for so many moments of my life, and I cannot work if I'm in that state of being. I can only create from an inner lighter atmosphere, and I imagine, and hope, that this lighter feeling shines through towards the viewer… I myself find inspiration in nature - the abundance and the contrasts, and the sense of total acceptance and embrace. I always feel lighter out in nature and it's important for me to somehow manage to bring that feeling into my art. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the contrasts of the world and man-made. That fascinates me too, and I find it interesting to rein the chaotic and confusing, discover what’s hidden underneath and turn it into great art… When I start with an empty canvas, I always have an idea of what I’m going to create. But it’s not until the piece is finished and I’ve had a little conversation with it, that I realize what the storyline is. Of course, as the creator of it, it is my ideas, reflections and expression coming out, but it truly also is the artwork’s own story, and that’s quite cool. So, there are plenty of more or less hidden messages in my works, and if the viewer “gets it” it’s great! If not, that’s alright too. It's not my intent to lead the viewer in one particular direction. As long as my art evokes interest and response, and even a little delight, I’m happy. Of course, it would be nice if it would inspire to pleasurable thoughts and feelings, and be the invitation for new ideas and asks. And maybe even give the viewer a sense of their own inner strength and greater possibilities in their own lives.
What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?
Do what makes your heart sing and don't be afraid to color outside the lines. Your unique expression and creation is a gift to this world, and what you have and be is a contribution to the creation of a greater reality here on planet Earth! Go, Chose and Be!
In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?
I hope that I continue to grow as an artist in the next five years and that I’ll learn to be more ambitious and goal-oriented regarding my own art and career. More and more I trust myself and my abilities to create art and I believe it will be easier to expand as the artist I am in the future. I also would like to honor those who appreciate my work - that are eager to see more - by actually creating more and focusing on having my art exhibited. Wouldn’t it be nice to have my work shown in galleries, not only in my home country, but also all over the world? What would it take to attract those that would love to have my art on their wall? I’m here and I will do my very best to meet desires and contribute to more great art in the world!
Country Norway
Website https://hegeullensvang.no/
