Sonja Hinrichsen’s art addresses our relationship with the natural world – as we perceive it and interact with it. Examining urban and natural environments through exploration and research, her artwork spans from video, performance, and installation to environmental art.
But what really caught our attention is her series of what she calls “Snow Drawings.” Much like their name suggests, these drawings are created on massive snow-covered landscapes. With the help of volunteers and sometimes whole communities, Hinrichsen creates walking pattern systems with snowshoes.
The result, when seen from a bird-eye view, is quite striking. “I believe that through the means of art it is possible to point out the importance of environmental soundness – through speaking to emotion and passion for nature, and through unlocking an ancient sense of freedom and awe,” reflected Hinrichsen in a piece she posted on her personal website.
“We have come to see our planet as a mine to extract the resources we need to maintain our extravagant life-styles, and as a dumping station for our toxic waste products,” she criticizes. “I believe, however, to secure a habitat for future generations (of our own species as well as others) it is essential that we tune ourselves in with nature and re-gain greater awareness of our planet, understand it better and take better stewardship of it.”
