MUNTHE ART MONDAY: HANNA PETERSON
Instagram: @studio.peterson
Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.
I’m Hanna and I’m an artist. I’m based in Gothenburg, Sweden, and my main technique is painting, which it has been ever since I was a kid, but I also love to explore different textile techniques that comes my way. At the moment I am tufting, which basically feels like transferring my paintings into rugs or wall pieces through yarn.
Could you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?
One question close to my heart is how to balance a creative career with a holistic lifestyle. Working within a creative field, I think it is important to find a way to make a living from what you love but to not wear yourself out. In general women feel a bigger need to perform and prove their skills and that can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, I care about drive and goals but also try to value the act of recharging and a wholesome lifestyle while on the journey to my goals. It is easier said than done and perhaps something to continue practicing throughout life.
Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?
Through years of art schools, I have collected such talented friends who enjoy their lives and chasing their dreams while supporting each other and these women inspire me daily. My two favourite artists/designers on social media, except my friends, are Frida Bard and Siri Carlén. They are both twisting and turning on norms and concepts. Frida is a designer, creative consultant and jewellery designer who got the skills of digging in archives to find inspiration, therefore her feed is always a treasure! The artist Siri Carlén seems to be eating art for breakfast but also coping with her artistry vs life balance. She’s an idol for sure. All these women’s creative flow, unique styles and how they go about their own journeys seem authentic and that’s an inspiration to me!
• What has been the most challenging aspect of being a female artist?
My main difficulty has probably been to believe in myself as an artist and allowing myself to enter and taking up space in the art community. Still working on it but feeling more and more empowered as well as entitled to be here! All the incredible women around me add motivation to continue creating my space.
What would you like people to notice in your artwork?
I’ve never been a big speaker, so I paint the things I don’t always talk about. Inclusiveness and natural bodies of all kinds are for example often on my mind when painting. While sometimes it’s more about casting a light on a colour combination I’ve found lovely, colour nerd as I am.
