Hanne Væringsaasen’s paintings combine bold colours, symbolic imagery, and a balanced dialogue between figurative and abstract. Her works explore identity, belonging, and the human relationship with nature, where the perceptual meets the conceptual. Through layers of narrative and form, the viewer is invited to move between inner and outer landscapes.
Unless otherwise indicated, the works are executed in acrylic on canvas
Exploring key thematic elements:
“Birds of Paradise”
Acrylic on canvas, 110 × 110 cm
A symbol-rich composition where exotic beauty meets inner struggle. Two vibrant birds of paradise stand beside a woman gathering cascading pink threads — metaphors for life’s memories and experiences — over a tranquil pond of koi and lilies. A soldier figure shelters a bird within his coat, embodying both protection and conflict. Geometric patterns frame the scene, contrasting with organic forms, while a luminous moon adds a layer of introspection.
“Ray of Light”
Acrylic on canvas, 150 × 120 cm
A poignant dialogue between conflict and hope. Ghostly silhouettes of soldiers linger in the background, while a woman stands amidst wind-tossed daisies — some clinging to her as if part of her clothing, others breaking apart, their seed heads scattering like bullets through the air. She extends a beam of light into the scene, a gesture of healing and protection. Symbols of nature’s resilience, from vibrant blossoms to a solitary bird, contrast with wartime shadows. A branch-hung face mask roots the work in the pandemic era, fusing historical and contemporary narratives into a meditation on fragility, endurance, and the human will to protect life.
“Unusual Conversations”
Acrylic on canvas, 160 × 140 cm
A surreal encounter between humans, birds, and insects in a landscape where scale and perspective shift fluidly. Monumental blooms, an organic hat formed by a bird and leaf, and a figure with insect-like traits create a dreamlike dialogue on identity, transformation, and communication across species and sensory worlds.
