Grete Hjorth-Johansen’s Forest photography exhibition
Grete is the 2021 winner of the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize Choice Award, meaning her work was voted the most popular by the Ashurst staff and associates.
The exhibition is at Ashurst, London Fruit & Wool Exchange 1 Duval Square, London E1 6PW.
It’s open every day and evening until 7th January, but visits are by appointment only, please contact grete@ghjstudio.com.
All work is for sale as limited edition prints.
Her website can be found here:
The exhibition, explained by Grete
I currently have three series of work from the forest. They all look at the marks left by human activity there, both good and bad, some permanent, some not, and the effect those marks have on both us and the forest. I tell the tales of the trees’ suffering from their own point of view. I find new meaning and interpretation in the lovely little shelters made by the children. I also look at people’s selfish need to leave a mark everywhere and declare their love affairs. I find it interesting how people use (and abuse) their environment, sometimes quite thoughtlessly! I really don’t want to be preachy or lecturing, but rather a quiet observer. I hope my work is both thought provoking and visually engaging.
1. TARTARUS about the dead or dying pollarded tree reimagined as tortured ancient Greek gods, but really looking at how the trees twist and distort as a result of what they’ve been through:
2. SANCTUM about the little shelters and exploring them as a mental space rather than physical:
3. LOVEHEARTS where I’ve taken photos of over 700 different love carvings from across the entire forest over a three year period, spanning at least 95 years of carvings:
ancient Beech trees Epping Forest Photography trees Woodland