Hanna Stahle ‘Trespasser’

A stonewall fragment in Old Riga presents the wall as a metaphor for seclusion, something that has become particularly relevant since the mass arrival of refugees in Europe. The amorphous sculptural shape placed inside the wall symbolises an uncontrollable and defiant force able to overcome any obstacles.

Hanna Stahle (1964) is a Swedish artist whose work comprises installations, sculptural objects and interventions in public places. Her work is characterised by a certain absurdly surreal figurativeness – by moulding seemingly familiar characters, objects and forms into something new, Hanna Stahle creates an artistic reality similar to dreams and related to the aesthetic of science fiction. The mysteriousness and various unusual combinations in her work convey a feeling of post-apocalypse and objects made in high-tech labs, simultaneously being critical about the civilisation. By highlighting the contrast between amorphous forms and rational, controlled structures, Hanna Stahle’s works are mainly created in public space, thus allowing each work to interact with architecture and the context of its urban environment, including any incidental reaction from the audience. Whilst shaping her surreal narratives inside the commonplace urban environment, Hanna Stahle amplifies the fine balance between unambiguousness and elusiveness – the viewer is even more intensely confronted by the unknown that surrounds her creations. Hanna Stahle studied sculpture and urban planning, exhibiting since 1987 and up until now she has had 18 solo shows.