Siri Hermansen: Bipolar Horizon
For her solo exhibition Bipolar Horizon, Siri Hermansen introduced us to the barren and deserted settlement of Pyramiden on the Norwegian island of Svalbard. Those already familiar with Hermansen’s work discovered a somewhat familiar setting, where social and political critique are coupled with a dedication to the process of working with art and an innate understanding of compositional form and balance. Her artistic inquiry addresses social issues and political decline while also exposing the negative ramifications of consumerism. Her investigation involves an ongoing interest in the polarity between the external and the internal, as well as the visual versus the conceptual significance of various objects. With this exhibitions, she set the mood for an unexpected encounter, transforming the empty, abandoned, cold and windswept territory of Svalbard into a rich landscape for artistic investigation.