St Antony’s College Unveils New Painting by Artist-in-Residence Dr. Karen Aarre
In November, St Antony’s College proudly unveiled Habitat, a new painting by Dr. Karen Aarre, the college’s first Artist-in-Residence, in the iconic Hilda Besse Building. Dr. Aarre, a Social Anthropology graduate of St Antony’s and an acclaimed visual artist based in Oslo, drew inspiration from the college gardens and the Oxford Botanic Garden, capturing the interplay between the natural and built spaces on campus.
The Warden, Professor Roger Goodman, introduced the event, explaining that the refurbishment of the Hilda Besse which took place between 2019 and 2022 had made the College aware of what a fabulous space the building offered for displaying large works of art. Rather than purchasing new pieces, the College sought to engage artists to create meaningful works that showcase their own style and capture the College’s unique culture. With her longstanding ties to the College—beginning with her MPhil studies in 1994 and culminating in her DPhil—Karen was the perfect candidate to inaugurate this new tradition.
During her residency in June 2023, Karen closely observed and documented St Antony’s green spaces, focusing on how the college gardens frame its architectural landscape and serve as part of College life and culture. Alongside the inspiration drawn from the Oxford Botanic Garden, these studies culminated in Habitat as well as a series of other works displayed in an exhibition, held in November alongside the unveiling. The exhibition was met with enthusiastic acclaim, with visitors praising her ability to capture the unique blend of nature and built environment that defines the College.
Karen’s body of work, mostly focusing on botanical themes, explores the intersection between the natural and the man-made. Her artistic journey, rooted in the duality of nature and culture, and shaped by her background in social anthropology, seeks to capture the moments of wonder and imagination that arise when humans interact with the natural world.
Habitat, now a permanent fixture in the Hilda Besse Building main stairway, continues this exploration, alluding to the College’s role as a nurturing and diverse greenhouse of ideas by putting the plants at centre stage. The piece will be enjoyed by generations of Antonians as an integral part of their everyday College experience.
Habitat
The Sound of a Bird Flying Low Across the Garden
To celebrate the unveiling of Habitat, Karen held an exhibition in the Old Fellows Dining Room entitled ‘The Sound of a Bird Flying Low Across the Garden’. It featured pieces inspired by her residency at St Antony’s and her time spent at the Oxford Botanic Garden.
All images credited to Nanna Wessel Sundt.
