Hanne Gie

The works are primarily created using charcoal, graphite, oil, and acrylic. These materials are used both independently and in combination, depending on the subject, expression, and artistic process.

Drawing holds a central place in the artistic practice, with a particular focus on charcoal and graphite. These materials allow for an exploration of the contrast between precise detail and raw, more abstract surfaces, often creating strong transitions between light and darkness.

Paintings are primarily created in oil and acrylic, often built through multiple layers to develop depth, colour, and texture. Across all materials, contrast, figurative elements, and visible traces of the artistic process remain central.

The human body is central to Giertsen’s work, particularly hands, faces, and fragments of the body. Subjects are examined at close range, allowing details, gestures, light, and body language to become important elements of the final expression.

The works are primarily based on her own photography. The photograph serves as a visual starting point before the subject is further developed through drawing or painting. Compositions may be altered, details emphasised, and certain areas simplified or abstracted.

Detailed observation is an important part of the process, particularly in the relationship between realistic elements and more open or undefined areas. Through this transformation, the photograph becomes the starting point for an independent artwork rather than an image to be reproduced directly.