Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Hansen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Two years ago, I decided to put my all into my fine artwork. It was a scary decision to make, with a lot of unknowns, but connecting with my true passion has turned out to be the most rewarding journey. I always knew I was creative, so at first I started the track to have a 9-5 design job. After being exposed to a variety of different creative careers, and what life within the arts could actually look like, I was able to acknowledge my passion for sculpture and installation within fine arts.
Since then, I’ve put myself out there for opportunities, which have led to works like my first large -scale public piece. The installation is a community-focused art piece that I created for the Austin- Straubel Airport in my hometown of Green Bay, WI last year. Most recently, I’ve been given the opportunity to put on a solo show of my recent work at Gallery 148! The sculptural installations are the result of a semester-long research inquiry into the art and history of quilting, as well as my familial ties to the craft. In my pieces, I combine technology, like time-based video art and projection, with traditional textile and craft to create thoughtful and personal sculptural installations. I address themes of craftsmanship, analog vs digital technology, familial traditions in pieces that are rich in texture and movement.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been ups and downs for me in my career. Things that all artists deal with, like imposter syndrome, for example, have gotten the better of me at times. I luckily have received a lot of love and support from those around me, and over time I have been able to show myself that my artwork is worth creating!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I describe myself as an Interdisciplinary Artist, and I work primarily in sculpture and installation. I use a variety of mediums both analog and digital and consider my work an intersection between textiles and new media.
Curiosity and experimentation are huge forces within my artistic practice, I enjoy learning new techniques and methods of making and derive inspiration from combining analog and digital manners creation. Time to play and test these materials and my half-baked ideas is crucial, letting loose allows me to think about materials and processes in new ways.
Within the last year, I have taken up processes within fiber arts though my love of traditional crafts goes further back. I was raised around a large extended family, many of whom regularly work with fiber crafts. I learned handicrafts like knitting and sewing at a young age from them, and have always found comfort in the repetitive actions of creating with textiles. I find the malleable nature of the material to be warm and inviting, and am interested in the growing acceptance of the integration of craft in the fine arts world. This past fall I started a deep dive into the history and craft of quilting, and my recent work has combined digital technology and quilting aesthetics and processes. What sets me apart from others working within installation or sculpture is the way I combine this digital technology with my other interests in fiber arts.
Right now, I have prints of my digital work available on my Etsy (@sophiehansenstudio).
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, absolutely. With the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the tools that were accessible to me dramatically shifted. I started to create more work digitally, and all the time I spent with screens shifted concepts within my work. I considered the strange connection between our physical and virtual worlds, and expressed those thoughts through glitchy digital collages and video works. My artistic practice really expanded with the addition of all the new processes I was learning, but after a while I found myself really wanting to make tactile work again. This is when I started to incorporate into my practice fiber techniques like weaving, crocheting & knitting, and spinning my own yarn from fiber scraps. Most recently, I have been doing a deep dive into the history and art of quilting specifically. I have really enjoyed connecting with my family, friends, and the fiber community at large as a result of making those works.
Contact Info:
- Email: srhansen99@gmail.com
- Website: https://srhansen99.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophansen.art/
- Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sophiehansenstudio
Image Credits
Sophie Hansen
