Member of the Month: Hanna Pherson

PAB is pleased to introduce the Member of the Month, where we will showcase a brief interview with one of our members here on the website and on social media every month. The first artist featured is Hanna Pherson.

-Where were you born?

Gothenburg (Göteborg) Sweden

-Where do you live?

Bergen, Norway

-What pronouns do you use?

She/her

– What makes you work with performance?

I started my BA in the glass and ceramics depatrement at Konstfack in Stockholm. I was young and rebellious so I wanted to break all the rules of making craft and started filming myself breaking objects I had made. When I dropped out and started my Bachelor’s in Art in Bergen I didn’t know that I was doing performance until my first professor (Frans Jacobi) told me. Nowadays I have moved away from it a bit and I’m getting back to creating objects again. But I view my process differently now because of my experience with performance. 

– Do you have any rituals before performing?

Freaking out. Being in denial. The minutes before I’m hyper focused and feel like I’m outside my own body. It’s a very spiritual experience. 

– What was the best performance you have done so far? Why?

I did a performance in Denmark once where I talked a lot in Swedish. A member of the audience told me afterward that while they didn't understand everything I said, they listened to the melody of my language instead. That performance stands out for me for that reason. I also did a karaoke performance once where I sang for hours, and the audience joined in. It was terrifying but fun!

– Are you currently working on any performance?

I’m currently working mostly with textiles and trying to communicate concepts through objects. It still feels new and exciting for me.

– What advice would you give to someone who is interested in working with performance?

Try to avoid the cliches! Think about how to start and end and rethink how to document. Consider what to wear—whether your outfit should be neutral or representative of the concept. It’s good to feel nervous; it means you care. If possible, keep something in your pocket that makes you feel safe, like a piece of jewellery or a nice rock. Celebrate afterwards. Redo it another time if you’re not satisfied with the results.

– Can you give us a few names of performance artists who inspire you?

This is so hard to answer because I’m inspired by so much different stuff! But Sophie Calle for her way of working with documentation. Curator Nicolas Bourriaud who coined the term ’relational aesthetics’. Superflex have some very cool projects like ’Free Shop’. I always go back to philosopher Thomas Nagel’s text ’What Is It Like to Be a Bat?’ if I feel lost. Movie director Ruben Östlund for his clear depiction of human behavior and power dynamics. 

Photos:

1.Let me sing for you / sing with me: Marie Vallestad 2.Dagsrapporter: Sonja Ovaskainen

3.Where have all the flowers gone young girls picked them everyone: Bjarte Bjørkum

4.Tomater i låda: Vegard Kleven

5.The Helping Project: Hanna Pherson

6.När jag fyllde rummet med min luft: Hanna Pherson

7.Jag ser blommor växa i varje hörn: Guttorm Glomsås

8.Den Rosa Tråden: Barbara Katzin

9.Den Rosa Tråden: Barbara Katzin