INTERVIEW | HANNA ANDERSSON

When entering the world of swedish artist Hanna Andersson we are approched by a dark, expressive naivism which seemingly echoes from the artist’s inner self. Hanna’s otherworldly landscape paintings are equal shares of attracting and disturbing, and exactly this duality awoke our curiousity and made us wanting to know more.

Hanna Andersson (b. 1987) grew up in the suburbs outside of Stockholm, and already as a youngster she felt the urge to express herself. She started doing graffiti, but quickly realized that “haha… Art in the traditional matter, was more my cup of tea. More exciting and mindtravelling for me.” After finishing a Bachelor degree in graphic design from Beckmans Collage of Design she applied for Konstfack. In 2012 she graduated a Master of Fine Arts in Storytelling and has, both while studying and after, been exhibiting her works in Sweden and abroad. Her work mainly takes shape as paintings, but she also experiments with sculptures, and recently rap music and beats. “Basically, I do everything. :)”

Here you can read our interview with Hanna and get an idea of how her captivating paintings come to life, find out more about her music project BABY G’S and finally get yourself a little piece of advice from the art guru herself.

The worst | All works by Hanna Andersson.

Hi Hanna! Can you tell us about your working process?
I think it’s an organic working process for me, that has led me to where I am today. I think that I’ve always wanted to do it my own way… You know. Since school I’ve always had a position of seeing things with more than one eye. Listening and trying to get more perspectives and then adjusting that into my work. Be humble.

My process is intuitive and therefore also hard to describe. But if we take painting for example… I just start with a color on a brush, just try to get a feeling. I often listen to g-rap while I do my work. I’m just tryna express my mind in a way. I take whatever I have in my studio; oilpaint, acrylics, spray… gouache, pen etc… And then just start. Often it ends up being some kind of landscape with small figurines doing stuff. You don’t know if it’s a dream or a reality check.

I often struggle to let go of the control freak that is inside of me. But when I do, I get that feeling – you know – that it’s something good for me and that I don’t have to be afraid. One thing leads to another. Often I realize much later what my work is about. I can have a guess while I’m doing it, but it always becomes much clearer at the end.

Hoes before bros | All works by Hanna Andersson.

Do you have a project that you are especially proud of?
Hard question! Right now I’m very proud of me and my friend, Fiffi’s, music project, BABY G’S, because it’s something that we do just for the love of the music. No obligations. We are just expressing ourselves and having fun. Our sound is rap mixed with pop influences and raw beats. You can take a listen here.

KBK (Kör bara kör) | All works by Hanna Andersson.

What are your biggest source of inspiration at the moment?
My biggest source of inspiration is life itself. Maybe it sounds corny, but it’s actually true. And music is of course something that just follows me around all of the time. But if you want something specific to artart… Well my biggest inspiration then is folk art, outsider art… People that just do stuff and don’t even know that they do art.

Fuck you – Jag stänger ner | All works by Hanna Andersson.

What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m in a painting phase and in between of knowing what’s coming up next. I have some new ideas that I want to try out, that include working with liquid latex on sculptures and combining that with my paintings.

What are your hopes, dreams and plans for the future?
Just simple; to get some fucking money. I am so tired of being broke all the time and not having money for art supplies. But for more futuristic plans; just do, just do and see where it can take me. YOLO!

Thongsong | All works by Hanna Andersson.

Do you have any piece of advice for fellow creatives?
Don’t be afraid of killing your darlings or your way of thinking. Try to see, listen and be humble to people around you. If you give, you gonna get something back. OMG, I sound like a guru.. like I’ve googled carpe diem-quotes. Haha!

You don’t know what & Castle drillin’ | All works by Hanna Andersson.