ISCA GALLERY

Berit Lousie Sara-Grønn
SILBA BASTE
14.04 - 13.05.22

We are pleased to present ‘Silba Baste’, Berit Louise Sara-Grønn’s solo exhibition with a series of large scale abstract paintings composed of an amalgam of oil paints, pigment, pastel, print and textile. The title of the show ‘Silba Baste’ can be translated from Sámi to ‘Silver Spoon’- a play on the expression which is synonymous with wealth, especially inherited wealth.

Sara-Grønn explores the themes of identity and culture, particularly her Sámi heritage, through the lens of modern abstraction in bold immersive pantings. Typically working in large format canvases, she creates color-saturated paintings which undulate with movement and form. Her works do not sit still, as the eye attempts to trace lines and decipher the small snippets of fabric, text or fragmented printed images within. The dynamic interplay between layers, colors and brushstrokes engage the imagination of the viewer by transcending reality and opening a world of subjective interpretation.

‘My aim is to evoke thought and feeling through the manipulation of abstract elements and to connect people across cultures through universal beauty.  I am intrigued by the range of mediums available to me. I am drawn to the diverse textures, colors, and techniques each medium offers, and I enjoy experimenting with oil paints, pastels, textiles, prints, and pigments. I find cultural textiles to be particularly meaningful in my work, as they symbolize identity and cultural heritage. By incorporating traditional patterns and designs into my paintings, I pay homage to cultural traditions and work to preserve them for future generations. At the same time, I address the intersection of cultural identity, tradition, and globalization through the repetition and patterns of textiles.’

Berit Lousie Sara-Grønn (b. 1981, Kautokeino) holds a Bachelors degree from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and studied photography at Oslo Fotokunstskole. She works primarily in large scale abstract paintings that are characterized by bold colors, fluid forms, and a dynamic use of texture combined to create a powerful and emotional visual impact. Recent exhibitions include Othership, Kunsternes Hus, Oslo (2022); Anothership, Oslo Academy of the Arts (2022); Linger, P0 Gallery KHiO, Oslo (2021); Group exhibition, Four You Gallery Dubai, Digital (2021); Hinne, Kunsternes Hus, Oslo (2020); The Quarantine Collection, Banditto Art & Dynamisk, Digital (2020); I’ll Show You Mine and Imagine Yours, Skylight Gallery, Oslo (2019); Velvet Ropes GIFC, Golsa Gallery, Oslo (2019). She participated in the Frans Masereel Centrum Residency in Kasterlee, Belgium (2020) and has had her works published in FOA Volume 11 (2019) and Art Book (I believe it is you) by Atelier Noua. She currently lives and works in Oslo.