Refleksjoner over vann / Reflections over water
Kunstgarasjen 1.april - 8.mai 2023
foto: Andreas Dyrdal
Havets munn / Mouth of the sea
2022
180 cm x 230 cm
olje på lerret
Triptych of water
From the left:
I
2021
120 cm x 80 cm
oil on linen
II
2021
120 cm x 80 cm
oil on linen
III
2021
120 cm x 64 cm
oil on linen
Nattens øyne / Eyes of the night
2022
diptych, 150 cm x 180 cm
oil on linen
Tåkespill / Play of fog
2022
130 cm x 110 cm
oil on linen
Blå sol / Blue sun
2022
180 cm x 150 cm
oil on linen
Glimt / Glimmer
2022
series varying between 8cm x 10 cm - 35 cm x 35 cm
oil on linen
The North Sea that flows into, and fills the fjords of Bergen is dark. During winter, the body of water can be seen as a sticky syrup with an independent will and a constant need to move. Later, in the night, all seeing eyes awakens in the reflections of electric lights. On a following day the surface is smooth, bathing in the light of clear blue hues, then on a day with little wind and overcast the surface may appear as a portal into a fog cladded valley.
These are a few of many descriptions that all aim to describe the continuous changes of the water outside my studio window on Nordnes, Bergen. In the exhibition, Reflections over water, I investigate how water, through my observations, enters the mind and in an encounter with the imagination – is made anew.
Another important element in my practice these past years has been evening courses in Japanese. Through my studies I have amongst, been introduced to the Chinese alphabet kanji, one of the oldest living written languages today, with roots in China. Many kanji have a shared origin in observations from the physical world, they are named Shōkei-moji. This palpable connection, between word, symbol and observations from a physical world has followed me into the development of this exhibition - in reflections over water.
Haruka Fukao
Illustration of Shōkei-moji (象形文字)
2022
ink on paper
When down here...
I grew up consuming volumes of manga and comics that I came across – moving on to drawing my own worlds and characters. The comic media is a new addition to a process, where ink drawings and photos, from certain locations are further developed in watercolour and gouache and then in oil painting. The comic media has in this context given me new opportunities to visualize the intrinsicalities of water. When making a comic I have the opportunity to explore new compositions, formats and the dynamics between them. The comic reveals a rhythm between the squares and the pages, a rhythm that flows into paintings of different techniques and scales.