| Recidency center | |
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| Recidency type | |
| Art form | |
| Time of residency | September 2024 |
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| Contact info | mari.manna@artun.ee |
| Definition of artistic practice? | Mari Männa (born 1991) is a sculptor and installation artist from Estonia. In her artworks, personal stories are intertwined with broader political narratives. She is interested in the mystical peripheries of consciousness, exploring our daylight hallucinations, fears, and nightmares. Männa consistently engages with contemporary topics in her artwork, while her fascination lies in unravelling the intricacies of the human condition during moments of crisis. |
| Title of the investigation at the residency | Nettles in Pagan Traditions and Folklore |
| Description of investigations and findings | My research focuses on the pre-Christian paganism of ancient Estonian and Danish peoples. I explored the symbolic and practical uses of nettles in both cultures. According to both traditions, nettles were used for medicine, tea, and soup, and hung on doorways to ward off evil spirits. Nettles also appear in some Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, symbolizing pain, hardship, or transformation. One notable story is “The Six Swans.” In this tale, a princess must weave shirts from nettles to save her six brothers, transformed into swans by an evil stepmother. She must complete this task without speaking for years, with the nettles symbolizing the suffering and sacrifice she endures. Her weaving of the nettles into shirts reflects themes of resilience, love, and redemption. |
| What are you most curious about or invested in in your own practice? | My sculptures often take on a totemic quality, embodying the idea of bridging worlds, whether between the realms of reality and spirituality or into imagined futures. In my recent work, I am delving into Nordic mythologies, drawing inspiration from Saaremaa’s and Bornholm's rich mythology. I am very keen on investigating Bornholm's mythology is its association with the ancient Norse and Scandinavian traditions. Bornholm shares some common mythological themes with the broader Scandinavian region, |
| What questions did you bring to investigate and what questions are you leaving with? | My sculptures often take on a totemic quality, embodying the idea of bridging worlds, whether between the realms of reality and spirituality or into imagined futures. In my recent work, I am delving into Nordic mythologies, drawing inspiration from Saaremaa’s and Bornholm's rich mythology. I am very keen on investigating Bornholm's mythology is its association with the ancient Norse and Scandinavian traditions. Bornholm shares some common mythological themes with the broader Scandinavian region, |
| Transformative, creative moments at the residency | I was grateful to draw inspiration from the environment around me. Experiencing exhibitions by local craftsmen and exploring the cliffs and natural landscapes naturally sparked my creative process. Although I didn’t have the chance to see the runestones, stones with Celtic symbols, or the round church up close due to time constraints, I made the most of what I encountered during my stay in Bornholm, and it ultimately came together for me. |
| Keywords for the work done at the residency | Islander identity, Nettles, Paganism, Portals |
| Research locations | Hammerknuden |
| Further documentation | |
| Photos documenting the research |
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| Videos of work in progess or reflections | |
| Webside links |
Mari Männa
