Gunilla Hansson

Born1961
Sweden

Gunilla Hansson’s personal expression crosses diverse media. She applies herself through photography, drawing, installation and painting. Hansson navigates her art with a clear compass. Since the late 1990s, she has consistently explored the importance of place. Poetically and conceptually, she highlights, describes and maps human encounter with the environment.

Video about 'Singing inhabitants' (in Swedish)

More works by the artist

Work from the series Islands or lakes by Gunilla Hansson — Gunilla Hansson, from the series Islands or lakes (I-XI), 2001

Photo of Gunilla Hansson's work Singing inhabitants on the board walk outside of the museum — Gunilla Hansson, Singing inhabitants, 2001 (detail)

Gunilla Hansson's work Pigment Islands, square containers with water and piles of pigment + detail — Gunilla Hansson, Pigment islands, 2001 (+ detail)

About the work

Singing inhabitants (2001)

The installation 'Singing inhabitants' by the artist Gunilla Hansson consists of a text carved into the wooden platform that encircles half the museum building. The idea for the work came to the artist from a newspaper article reporting that some low lying Pacific atolls will soon be completely flooded due to rising sea levels. An ethnic group of singing inhabitants in the Papua New Guinea archipelago risk losing their island due to rising sea levels. Gunilla Hansson has carved the full newspaper story into the boardwalk deck. Upon walking along the quay we are reminded of the global environmental damage we cause every day and which ultimately affects us all.

Picture of Gunilla Hansson's work Singing inhabitants on the bridge outside the Nordic Watercolour Museum — Gunilla Hansson, Singing inhabitants, 2001

Translation of the newspaper article, that is carved into boardwalk deck outside the museum

Singing inhabitants are forced to flee sinking island

A small singing ethnic group in Papua New Guinea's archipelago may lose its homeland as a result of global environmental degradation. The sea is rising every day. The 400 inhabitants of Takuu Island near Bougainville have a maximum of five years before the water covers their atoll. It can also happen within a few months due to a devastating combination of earthquakes and sea level rise. The people of Takuu have a unique culture. Each adult knows more than 1000 songs that they have memorized since childhood.