Hanne Granberg
When the tree falls, the shadow flies
30.7.-17.8.2014
Galleria Huuto Uudenmaankatu
“What a beautiful hill!” they all exclaimed, enraptured. “This hill, which at first shuts out the view, heightens expectation.
If one were to see the whole park immediately upon entering, the effect would be monotonous,” remarked Chia Cheng.
Cao Xueqin: Dream of the Red Chamber (Hung Lou Meng)
Hanne Granberg’s exhibition When the tree falls, the shadow flies will take the audience to a path along which the artist has picked noteworthy spots to view. The exhibition includes photographs and sculptures. The works have been created in China and Finland.
When the tree falls, the shadow flies depicts special everyday moments that stand out among the usual as flashes. Granberg has named the pictures using sentences taken from different contexts.
The idea is based on the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, also known as Hung Lou Meng, which is one of the most read Chinese classics. Chapter 14 describes how the private garden of a local aristocratic family has almost been completed. However, in order to be complete the garden requires words.
Naming the special spots in a garden is a Chinese tradition. Once the garden landscape has been adjusted as desired, the special spots are highlighted. The naming process is the first event in the garden. Those naming the garden walk around and discuss what kind of spot is worthy of naming. The Chinese view is that a suitable name comes from the character of the place. The garden will not be complete until the names have been given.
A name narrows down one’s interpretation and highlights the character of the place. It includes opening the character of the landscape to the viewer. Granberg’s idea is that one should walk around in the gallery like a garden.
Hanne Granberg (b. 1980) is a Helsinki-based photographer and artist. She earned her master’s degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in 2009. She also has a degree in fine arts from the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences where she majored in photography. From 2008 until 2013 Granberg was an active founding member of an artist collective that runs the Oksasenkatu 11 Gallery.
The exhibition has been partly organized with the support of the Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
Further information:
Hanne Granberg
hanne.granberg(at)gmail.com
+358 44 5249 220
