Norwegian multidisciplinary artist and vocalist Ingvild Waerhaug
‘If you recognize beauty in my work,
give thanks to Mother Nature.’
INSPIRATION
I draw my inspiration from the pure, raw Scandinavian nature. As a child I was free to roam the wild forest in my backyard, and my parents taught me to love and respect the Earth. Born into a family with an architect jazz trumpet-playing father, my mother, a gardener and weaver, and my brother, a drummer, I fell in love with music, space, colors, and fiber materials from a young age.
PROCESS
For as long as I can remember, I have been curious about the creative process and the spiritual aspects of life. This led me on a path to search for the bridge between these two worlds: the material and the nonmaterial world. Through the creative process, I have come to realize that as a human being, I am this bridge. In my creative process I use yoga and meditation and various fiber materials to make the nonmaterial material.
TECHNIQUE
My specialty is creating custom-made decorative artwork for contemplative spaces, and I work in both small and super-large sizes. My work is also commissioned by architects and interior architects and can be used in lobbies, restaurants, and as scenery in theaters, dance, and film productions. I have developed my own painting technique on a lightweight, fireproof industrial fiber material. A combination of watercolor and acrylic paints with freehand cutouts.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
I started my career as a window dresser in Oslo, which laid the foundation for my sense of space and visual communication. I ran my own event/visual marketing business in Oslo and worked for Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), Postal Services in Norway (Posten), NORAD The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Høie of Scandinavia.
Norway Trade Fairs (Norges Varemesse) to name a few.
At the National Art Academies of Oslo and Copenhagen I studied fine art and textile/costume design. This led to art commissioned by Christian Ringnes, Snøhetta Architects, Hennie Architects, and many others.
Studying the 17 Vedic art principles from the ancient Vedas has been life-changing for me. This method is founded by the Swedish artist Curt Kallman and is part of my daily creative practice as an artist. A certified teacher in the Vedic Art method—an intuitive painting process. I am bringing this 5000-year-old Vedic tradition from Scandinavia to the USA.