Artist Kat Hagen
Rjukan
My background is as both a Chartered Architect and Practicing Artist, educated at Edinburgh College of Art, Heriot Watt University, Scotland, based in Norway.
MessageI began painting as a young child. At age 16 I travelled to Tuscany to study art. Staying at the stunning Sargiano monastery, located in the beautiful Italian hills of Arezzo, I began to understand painting as an integral part of who I am. The monks taught me how to find peace through simple acts of observation. My paintings reflect - and are very much an extension of - myself. Being able to create and paint intuitively, freely without restraint, is a continuous journey of self-discovery, transformation, and growth.
I have a fascination and passion for colour. For me, colour is a journey. It is an exploration of the relationship between the physiological, the philosophical and the sociological. Understanding 'colour as a material' and 'colour as a language' is fundamental to my work - a never ending inquiry of ways to express emotions in a visible and tangible form.
How are we shaped by our past experiences? Can an art practice transform our understanding of the world and the way we see and experience things? How do we process and experience the sometimes-debilitating nuances of strong emotions? Can art create a common consciousness that will strengthen our interpersonal relationships and contribute to bringing society forward in a sustainable way? These are just some of the questions I explores through my work.
I have exhibited in various European cities over the years. At the age of 18 I was awarded the title 'Young Artist in Cheshire'. Since graduating from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh College of Art in 1997, I have attended several short courses at Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, and was one of six artists in residence at the 'Scuola Internazionale di Grafica' in Venice during the Arts Biennale 2015.
In October 2021 I was hosted by Sjøholmen Kunst og Kulturhus, a gallery just outside of Oslo, for my largest solo show to date ‘Simply Kat’. My follow up show ‘The Missing Chapter’ opened to the public at Sjøholmen on Saturday the 10th of June 2023
Statement
My art practice is deeply rooted in the feminine. In nature. In being. I feel most alive and most joyous when I’m tapping into my feminine energy. This is the space from which I create.
My visual language derives from I. We. Us. and our shared humanity. I use texture, light, movement, glass, steel, wire, twigs, fire, water, air, earth, sounds and their inherent properties as ‘paint’ with which I am interpreting and expressing the subtle nuances of felt and embodied emotions.
How are we shaped by our experiences? Can an art practice transform our understanding of the world and the way we see and experience things? How do we process and experience the sometimes-debilitating nuances of strong emotions? Can art create a common consciousness that will strengthen our interpersonal relationships and contribute to bringing society forward in a sustainable way?
I believe that a sustainable society requires balance. We need both the masculine and the feminine energies to make holistic choices. I also believe that many of the problems facing the world today are due to a systematic oppression of the feminine, and we must strengthen feminine qualities and give the ability to feel a legitimacy as great as the ability to rationalize.
All Rights Reserved. All artwork and content (pictures and text) are the sole property and copyright of Artist Kat Hagen (www.kat-art.no)