HP (Hillside Projects) is a transdisciplinary artistic entity founded in 2011 by Emily Berry Mennerdahl and Jonas Böttern. HP is based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Within a conceptual framework, HP explores the many cycles of life in relation to place alongside the interconnected socio-political narratives that arise through these explorations. HP embraces the absurd and the comedic as intrinsic elements of the tragic.
HP works in performance, video, sound, text, photography and painting. HP thrives from collaborations, not only within its own entity but also with others, and at times, it delves into curatorial spurs and community-based projects. HP considers how it moves in this world, what it brings into it, and why and how.
HP explores the notion of an audience. An audience in movement, an audience that is not alive, an intimate audience, a large audience, and one that is not present. HP asks what an audience is and what it can be.
HP tells stories. Stories of place and stories of collapse. The main characters are often birds. Colourful birds on the brink of extinction, birds killed in aeroplane crashes, birds that eat the dead. In their making, these stories expand into larger narratives. Narratives about the life cycles, of being eaten and eating, and of dust. We are all stardust.
HP explores translation. Translating one matter into another. Translating text into music. And sound into text. Research into performance. And movement into solidness. HP reflects on the need for materiality or a dispense with materiality. HP aims to make exhibitions that fit into a large suitcase. Unravelling the small into the large. Transforming the ephemeral into something and something into nothing.
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Bio
HP’s videos are distributed by FilmForm - The Art Film and Video Archive and Vidéographe Montréal. Böttern and Berry Mennerdahl from HP are chair persons at NKF (Nordic Art Association) and Böttern is on the board for RISK(U). HP has taken part in artist residencies such at IASPIS (SE),Clark House Initiative-Mumbai, Box Autumn Studios at Galleri Box-Gothenburg, Banff Centre Canada, TCG Nordica Kunming-China as well as shown their works in exhibitions and screenings at amongst others Röda Sten konsthall, Dazibao Montréal, Galleri54 Gothenburg, Oberhausen Film Festival Germany, Bonniers Konsthall etc. They have been awarded grants from the Swedish Arts Council, Konstakademin as well as private stipends.
Emily Berry Mennerdahl (1980), holds an MFA in Studio Arts from Concordia University, Montréal (2009) and a B.A. (Hons) in Photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK (2004). Since returning to Sweden, she has participated in the Independent Study Programme at Valand Art Academy, Gothenburg (2009) and The Photographic Artist Book Postgraduate Course at The Royal Institute of Art Stockholm (2018). Berry Mennerdahl has taken part in residencies, screenings and exhibitions in, amongst other places, The Banff Centre, Articule Montréal, Excentris Montréal, Botkyrka Konsthall, and Urbis Centre. Berry Mennerdahl was a research assistant at Hexagram -Media Arts at Concordia University and has worked as a guest teacher on the BA Photography course at Manchester School of Art, MMU, UK (2010-2013) as well as the course PostMejan at The Royal Institute of Art Stockholm (2019-2024). She also works as a translator in the Arts and Culture Sector.
Jonas Böttern (1977) completed his MFA in Fine Arts at Konstfack - University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockholm (2016). Upon graduation from Konstfack, Böttern was awarded the honourable Principle Scholarship. Recently (2020), Jonas completed the postgraduate course Art in the Open at Konstfack. Before his studies at Konstfack, Böttern has participated in artist residencies in China and India and is self-taught with a background in painting and drawing. Travelling has always played a significant role in his artistic practice and continues to do so. In 2022, Böttern completed the postgraduate course The Photographic Artist Book - Performing Sustainability at The Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and Sound in Interaction: Sound Art, Sound Architecture and Sound Design at Konstfack, Stockholm.