Galerie Maria Wettergren is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition in France with the Norwegian artist Hanne Friis. The exhibition Phases, which takes place in the gallery from May 24 – July 27 will present a selection of recent textile sculptures by the artist.

Floating throughout the space, on the walls, and lying on the floor are Friis’ characteristically twisted and delicately condensed masses of silk, wool, denim and canvas. The sculptures have been carefully crafted by hand with repetitive movements that create variations in shape, texture and color. Her method of draping loose fragments against the tightly stitched mass allows the body to breathe out of its restrained folds. From afar, the figures appear animated and as the tension of the stitching alternates, they naturally curve, exuding sensuality.

Before specializing in textile art, Hanne Friis studied sculpture and painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Trondheim between 1992 and 1996. Today she is considered one of the most influential Norwegian contemporary artists working with textiles. A large number of her works are included in both public and private collections, such as the National Museum of Art in Oslo and the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Trondheim, Norway. Her most recent exhibitions include Révélations at the Grand Palais, Paris in 2019, Tissage Tressage at the Villa Datris Foundation in France in 2018 and The Forgetfulness is Full of Memory at Gallery Marso in Mexico City, Mexico in 2018.

The exhibition coincides with the presentation of Hanne Friis’ monumental sculpture Shades of Black and Blue at ‘Revelations : The International Fine Craft and Creation Biennial’ held at the Grand Palais from May 23 – 26.