Sanna Martha
EN
NL
NL
Sanna Martha (1979) lives and works in Utrecht as a visual artist and dialogic worker in mental health care. She studied at the Utrecht School of the Arts. She exhibited her work at Beeldend Gesproken, among other places.
Martha moves in different worlds and therefore quickly switches between different contexts and roles. Polyphony, co-production and allowing uncertainty are nourishing basic principles for her that are embodied in the artworks.
Martha uses different techniques and works with a wide variety of materials. For this exhibition she worked with analogue printing techniques in combination with glass and textiles.
Martha moves in different worlds and therefore quickly switches between different contexts and roles. Polyphony, co-production and allowing uncertainty are nourishing basic principles for her that are embodied in the artworks.
Martha uses different techniques and works with a wide variety of materials. For this exhibition she worked with analogue printing techniques in combination with glass and textiles.
‘‘The collective provides support and encouragement to artistically unpack what has been shielded and suppressed for the sake of others.’’
I-Thou
(2023-2025)
I-Thou is inspired by the concept of the I-Thou relationship by the philosopher Martin Buber: ‘the healing principle of meeting another being as he is, rather than what he represents’.
I-Thou is a photography project with horses in shelters.
Horses are particularly sensitive animals and pierce straight into the soul. The alignment between feeling, thinking and acting is the basic condition for connection with a horse; being able to purely show up as you are in the moment in relationship to the other.
Mara’s Pet
(2024)
Mara’s Pet is about re-establishing an inner dialogue after a state of fragmentation in which thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations or memories are (temporarily) interrupted or disconnected from consciousness (dissociation).
For the textile work Martha used a resist technique in combination with indigo. Indigo is a dye with a rich history and was given the predicate of gift of the gods or devil's colour due to its attributed magical power. The trade in indigo has inspired people to religious thinking and ritual activities, but also led to power and exploitation.
Vertical Polyphony
(2024)
Vertical Polyphony refers to all the voices that are present within us. The work is inspired by prayer rolls; the Bogolan from Mali and the Ketab from ancient Ethiopia. The rolls served as a talisman and were provided with traditional texts, symbols and images to ward off illness of the person for whom the roll was made. They were also used to strengthen or support important moments in people's lives.
The residing of Mara
(2023)
The Residing of Mara reflects on intergenerational trauma.
The Self
(2024)
The Self is about the value of getting lost while initiating a conversation with a still part within oneself that transcends the personal.