Hege Karoliussen

 

Hege Karoliussen was born and raised on a windswept island in Northern Norway, but now lives and works in the buzzing city of Copenhagen, Denmark. She works with pastels and coloured pencils on paper, and her biggest inspiration is childhood daydreams and memories—from a time when life seemed simpler and more easygoing, where the colours were faded and things moved slower.

 

Artist Statement

My work is about bygone eras and faded memories. It looks inward to shared experiences we've all had. We might not be the same, but we have all been children, and we all have a lineage and a history. A lot of my inspiration comes from old vintage photos and faded Polaroids. I work figuratively, using pastels and colored pencils on paper. It is the perfect way to express a distant memory with its soft and hazy quality. I want to show that no matter who we are, we all have similar experiences, and no matter how alone we feel, there will always be someone out there who can understand and accept us.

Mission Statement

"I create art for melancholics and dreamers. I want to slow down time and move through to other dimensions, where memories live. I want the viewer to see something new, yet familiar, like a memory that lives at the back of the mind, like a shadow. Something that is forgotten but still felt in the soul."

Contact

www.hkaroliussen.com
karoliussen@gmail.com
@hkaroliussen

Interview

What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
Leaving a legacy. I have a voice and something to say, and I want to share it. If nothing else, I want my daughter to one day see that I worked hard, shared my experiences, and tried to find the things that connect all of us and make us the same, rather than different from each other.

How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
It has everything to do with my style, how I use colours, and what I draw. Most of my work starts out as a feeling, like joy or melancholy, and then the visuals come, and I piece everything together like a puzzle.

Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
I need to be grounded in my body. That can be going for a run or walk before work, or taking breaks during the day for stretching or a quick dance-off. Some days, it can even mean getting a workout in while emptying the dishwasher or hanging laundry!

What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I ask myself, “What would Dolly do?” Dolly Parton is an amazing source of inspiration, positivity, and gusto. She can take any challenge and turn it into an opportunity, and whatever she sets her mind on, she will find a way to do.

How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I hope it can create a mirror where we can all recognise ourselves in each other. No matter who you are or where you're from, there will always be something we share, like a favourite food or a teacher who was there for us. We are not so different and shouldn’t be scared to reach out and get to know each other. I hope we can look for all the things we have in common rather than all the differences.

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