MATER: Mother's Heart

In 1947, Hannah Ryggen wove the tapestry Mors hjerte (Mother’s Heart), a personal account of the complex feelings that emerge upon entering motherhood and then discovering your child is of ill health. The motif of “mother with child” is a recurring theme throughout the history of art, and is usually presented in an idealised manner. Ryggen bucked the trend when she expressed the conflicting feelings attached to motherhood, which only became commonplace much later, with women’s liberation in the 1970s. The topic is still current among contemporary artists, who often find it hard to combine the roles of caregiver and professional artist.

Hannah Ryggen is primarily known for her strong motifs, in which she offered harsh criticism against international politics. On the other hand, she also wove herself into a strong craft tradition: through the use of materials, techniques and ornamentation referencing folk art, she carried on the legacy from her foremothers. She has herself become a source of inspiration for new generations of textile artists. The exhibition shows Ryggen’s works in dialogues with both ancient Coptic textiles and works by artists that have recently utilised the medium of textiles to fight for women’s rights, to make visible the work that lies in the caregiver role, or to connect to the tradition to which they belong. Thus, connecting threads are drawn both to the past and to the future.

The question of “origin” is not only a matter of biology or tradition – myth and symbolism may also come into play. Early on, Ryggen often drew inspiration from religious motifs, adding her own critical sting to them over time. In the Christian tradition, the hand is a central motif; different gestures evoke different meanings, and the hand itself may symbolise God, blessings and the power of creation. The hand features frequently as a motif in Ryggen’s own works, and in several of the works included in the Triennale exhibition. Here, it serves different purposes: it may symbolise work, call for people to fight, or offer loving motherly protection against danger.

Participating artists: Ann Cathrin November Høibo, Damien Ajavon, Elisabeth Haarr, Erlend Leirdal, Gunvor Nervold Antonsen, Hannah Ryggen, Hans Ryggen, Jais Nielsen, Jennie Bringaker, Kjell Erik Killi-Olsen, Kai Nielsen, Moa Håkansson, Monika Mørck, Olga de Amaral, Tove Pedersen and unknown artists.

The slide show above displays a selection of works shown in the exhibition. All works in the slide show are part of  Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum's collection. 

During the Triennale, the artwork SOLANGE #32 is on display at Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum's facade in Munkegata, Trondheim town centre.