Per Christian Brown’s project “The Root” consists of a video piece entitled “The Root” (HD video, 10:35 min), a photo series entitled “Der Wurzelmensch” (Root Man) consisting of 8 analogue double-exposed black and white photographs, and 3 B/W photographs from the series “I can’t leave these Trees”. 

The series “Der Wurzelmensch” (Root Man) and the video piece was also presented in the exhibition entitled “The House and The Root – Memories and Metamorphoses”, at Kinokino Kunsthal in Sandnes, Norway in 2021 and in the group exhibition “And the Fjord below…” at Kabuso Art center in Norway in 2020. My project dwells on the idea of the root and its multifaceted symbolic and poetic interpretations. The root is an archetype of something that is solid, and a giver of life to all plants. It has vitality, plunging down into the endless depths of the earth, deep in the soil where the dead lie at rest: a robust force of life amid decomposition.

Our language has numerous words and expressions denoting the psychologically relevant opposites of being rooted and firm, and the lack thereof, rootlessness. The video piece explores the underlying psychological and poetic aspects of the root’s internal life, and how this natural phenomenon can evoke so many contradictory ideas. Dark and seemingly lifeless, the root is nevertheless a symbol of colorful flowering. It also represents an axis of depth taking us back to a distant past, to the past of our species.

The video was based on a voice-over of a sound recording of fragments from French philosopher Gaston Bachelard’s (1884-1962) 1948 essay “Earth and Reveries of Repose”. Bachelard uses poetic fragments from 19th and 20th century writers to postulate his ideas of the inner nature of the root. 

In the photo series “Der Wurzelmensch” (Root Man), consisting of 8 100x80cm silver gelatine prints, and the series “I can’t leave these Trees”, images of roots are combined with the human body by double exposing the negatives. They bear a strong similarity to our human anatomy, our intestines and limbs. The series can be perceived as a life cycle, with the first image expressing the birth of man through roots. In the last image, the figure is fading away and decomposing in the black soil. These transformations resemble the physical transformations of the famous work “The Metamorphoses” by the Roman poet Ovid from 8 AD, where mythological figures are transformed into various trees and plants.

Solo Exhibitions (recent):

Norway – 2021– The House and The Root – Memories and Metamorphosis, Kinokino kunstsal, Sandnes.

Berlin – 2021– Lumen Naturae (Through the Looking Glass, Shop-Window-Exhibition), Luisa Catucci Gallery.

Oslo – 2018 – Wonders of the Volcano, Kunstnerforbundet.

Stavanger – 2017 – Wonders of the Volcano, Prosjektrom Normanns.

Oslo – 2015 – Earth and Reveries of Repose- Reveries of Material Interiority, Ram Gallery.

Group Exhibitions (recent):

Oslo – 2022 – En stein er en sakte hendelse, Oslo Municipality’s art collection in collaboration with Deichman Library Bjørvika.

Norway – 2021 – To build a Collection, New Acquisitions, Stavanger Art Museum.

Øystese (Norway) – 2021 – And the fjord below continues its course … Kunsthuset Kabuso.

Berlin – 2020 –Wiedererwachen, Open Air Fair Show.

Oslo – 2020 – Den Siste Festen, QB Gallery.

Stavanger (Norway) – 2020 – Fra Balkongen, Stavanger Kunstmuseum.

Berlin – 2019 –Chimera, Projektraum Kunstquartier Bethanien.

Kongsvinger (Norway) – 2019 – Festningen.

Berlin – 2019 –Freigänger/åpen soning, collaboration with Jens Jürgen, Ehemaliges Frauengefängnis.

Oslo – 2019 – Yellow, QB Gallery.