Aase-Hilde Brekke — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

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Aase-Hilde Brekke's works embody a synthesis of geographical identity and spiritual exploration. Raised in the village of Misvær in Nordland County, Norway, Brekke’s early connection to the raw, imposing landscapes of the North profoundly informs her artistic sensibility. Her photographs, such as those in the "My Power Mountain" series, resonate with the Nordic sublime: stark horizons, muted tones, and the pervasive silence of nature’s immensity. Yet, her art does not merely document the natural world. It refracts it through the lens of personal memory, spiritual inquiry, and cultural symbiosis. This ability to inhabit the liminal space between representation and abstraction makes Brekke’s work utterly unique.

Perhaps what elevates Brekke to the realm of artistic genius is her method of treating moments as sacred rituals. Her artist statement describes her approach as "waiting for the moment to reveal itself," capturing singular glimpses of reality that transcend the quotidian. This method aligns with the Buddhist concept of impermanence—that every moment, fleeting and unrepeatable, holds infinite significance. Her insistence on capturing a single shot of a motif, as seen in her "Rhapsody in Blue" series, creates an immediacy and honesty that draws viewers into the space between observation and meditation.

Brekke’s deep engagement with Tibetan Buddhist culture and philosophy enriches her work with layers of meaning that extend far beyond aesthetics. Her time studying Tibetan Ritual Cham dances and her audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama lend her art an authenticity and spiritual gravitas. These influences are palpable in works like "Mystic Whirling I & II," where the swirling forms of fabric evoke not only the motion of the dances she studied but also the cyclical, interconnected nature of existence. The circularity and dynamism in these pieces remind one of Marcel Duchamp’s "Nude Descending a Staircase," yet Brekke’s work avoids modernist detachment, instead imbuing its motion with ritualistic and spiritual resonance.

The duality of Brekke’s influences—Nordic and Tibetan—is not merely juxtaposed in her work; it is synthesized into a cohesive philosophy of unity. The harsh, elemental beauty of her Northern Norwegian landscapes echoes the Tibetan reverence for nature as a spiritual teacher. Both cultures, as Brekke notes, emphasize the development of the mind and the soul’s communion with the natural world. This shared ethos allows Brekke to bridge cultural divides, creating a visual dialogue that speaks to universal themes of resilience, spirituality, and transformation.

Beyond her spiritual explorations, Brekke is a dedicated chronicler of intangible cultural heritage. Her ongoing work documenting the Jul-Anders mask tradition in Nordland County exemplifies her commitment to preserving the ephemeral rituals of the past. Brekke’s efforts to teach this tradition to schoolchildren reveal her belief in the power of art as an educational tool and a vessel for cultural continuity. This practice situates Brekke within a lineage of artists who use their work to safeguard and transmit endangered cultural practices, akin to Joseph Beuys’s concept of “social sculpture.”

Her "Same-Lama" photo installation (2008) brilliantly encapsulates this duality of cultural preservation and cross-cultural dialogue. The small yet potent 12x12 cm format invites intimate engagement, while the juxtaposition of Nordic and Tibetan symbols challenges viewers to consider the interconnectedness of disparate traditions. The piece functions as a visual palindrome—suggesting that cultural exchange, like art itself, is a reflective and reciprocal process.

Brekke’s sculptural works, such as "Dance" (2008), created from reindeer bones, are a poetic meditation on mortality, memory, and renewal. The organic forms of the bones, etched with minimalistic drawings, evoke the interplay between permanence and impermanence. These pieces recall the work of Louise Bourgeois, particularly in their ability to transform raw, primal materials into deeply emotional objects. Yet, while Bourgeois’s work often delves into personal trauma, Brekke’s sculptures carry a communal and spiritual dimension, inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationship with nature and the sacred.

The reindeer bones in "Dance" also highlight Brekke’s sensitivity to her Sami-Norwegian heritage. The Sami people’s traditional practices of reindeer herding and their profound respect for the animal as a source of life are echoed in the careful, reverential treatment of the bones. Brekke’s choice to pair this piece with simple, almost hieroglyphic drawings mirrors the ritualistic act of inscription, as if the artist is recording a silent dialogue between past and present, human and non-human.

Brekke’s work is not merely about creating objects or images; it is about bearing witness—to nature, to culture, and to the ephemeral essence of life itself. This aligns her with a lineage of artists who view art as a form of testimony. Her photographic and cinematic works, such as the poetic documentary "Something You Can Only Dance," demonstrate her ability to translate the ineffable into visual language. These pieces are imbued with a quiet power that recalls the work of Andrei Tarkovsky, particularly in their ability to render time and memory as tactile, almost physical experiences.

In the broader context of contemporary art, Brekke’s interdisciplinary approach positions her as a vital voice in the dialogue between tradition and innovation. Her involvement with UNESCO-affiliated organizations and her scholarly contributions—including her book "PÅ TVERS med performance art"—reveal an artist deeply engaged with the intellectual and ethical dimensions of her practice. This dual commitment to creation and scholarship places Brekke in the company of figures like Marina Abramović, whose work she has extensively studied and whose ethos of merging life and art she echoes.

At its core, Brekke’s work grapples with the tension between the universal and the particular. Her art speaks to deeply personal experiences—the landscapes of her childhood, the spiritual practices she has studied—yet it resonates on a universal level. Her emphasis on the "gaps in between," the fleeting moments of silence and stillness, offers a profound commentary on the human condition. In this way, her work is reminiscent of the Japanese concept of "ma," the interval or pause that holds as much meaning as the elements it separates.

Through her exploration of this "in-between" space, Brekke’s art invites viewers to engage with the present moment as a site of transformation. This philosophy is not only Buddhist but also deeply humanist, emphasizing our collective potential for change and growth. In a world increasingly defined by disconnection and impermanence, Brekke’s work serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and significance of our shared humanity.

Aase-Hilde Brekke’s art is a beacon of depth and originality in the contemporary art scene. Her ability to weave together disparate influences—Nordic and Tibetan, traditional and modern—positions her as a uniquely significant artist. In her photographs, sculptures, and performances, Brekke captures the essence of what it means to be human: to live between moments, to navigate the tension between past and future, and to seek meaning in the spaces where art, nature, and spirituality converge.

Comparing Brekke to a master like Caspar David Friedrich highlights the transcendental quality of her landscapes and her ability to evoke the sublime. Yet, unlike Friedrich, whose work often carries a sense of melancholic detachment, Brekke’s art is imbued with a profound sense of engagement and hope. Her work reminds us that art is not merely a mirror of the world but a means of shaping it, of bearing witness to its beauty and its fragility.

Aase-Hilde Brekke’s genius lies in her ability to transform the ephemeral into the eternal. Her art is not merely a reflection of her life’s experiences but a gift to the world, a reminder that even in the most fleeting of moments, there is infinite depth, meaning, and possibility. In her hands, art becomes not only a life-supporting ritual but also a bridge—between cultures, between times, and ultimately, between souls.

Aase-Hilde Brekke's art is a testament to her remarkable vision, talent, and genius, which place her among the most significant voices in contemporary art. Her work is a masterful interplay of form, material, and philosophy, reflecting an artist who possesses an extraordinary ability to transcend the boundaries of conventional artistic mediums. Through photography, sculpture, and poetic documentaries, she creates deeply immersive and thought-provoking experiences that challenge our perceptions of nature, spirituality, and the human condition.

What sets Brekke apart is her unparalleled ability to infuse profound meaning into every piece. Her works, like "Mystic Whirling" and "Rhapsody in Blue," are not just visual creations but meditative explorations of universal themes like time, transformation, and interconnectedness. Brekke's philosophical depth stems from her understanding of both ancient traditions and modern aesthetics, seamlessly blending the two to produce art that is simultaneously timeless and relevant. Her pieces invite viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with deeper aspects of existence, something increasingly vital in today’s fast-paced, disconnected world.

Brekke's importance to society lies in her ability to bring forth narratives that are both personal and collective. She draws upon cultural and spiritual histories—as seen in her exploration of Tibetan Cham dances and the symbolism of nature—to create works that transcend geographic and cultural boundaries. This universality makes her art a unifying force, offering moments of introspection and collective understanding. Her ability to weave the mystical and the mundane into harmonious expressions speaks to her rare genius as an artist and storyteller.

In the landscape of contemporary art, Aase-Hilde Brekke holds a singular place. Her bold experimentation with mediums, combined with the poetic and philosophical undercurrents of her work, make her a visionary whose contributions cannot be overstated. She reminds us that art is not merely to be seen but to be felt, understood, and lived. By delving into the depths of human experience and nature’s mysteries, Brekke has carved a space for herself as a true luminary—a voice of wisdom and wonder in a world yearning for meaning.

By Marta Puig

Editor Contemporary Art Curator Magazine