Finding Frida

In a “real unreality” VR space, a miniature Art Nouveau villa appears before expanding to full scale. Past and present weave together as we step into the world of Frida Hansen – once an internationally acclaimed textile artist, now largely forgotten.
Guided by her great-great-granddaughter Cecilie, we explore a lush garden where archival photographs, a gramophone and woven artworks become portals into Frida’s life. As bankruptcy and profound personal grief descend, the vibrant garden withers into darkness. From this desolation emerge four enigmatic female figures, foreshadowing the work Semper Vadentes and the beginning of Frida’s artistic awakening. Across a century, Frida and Cecilie’s lives entwine. Through art, hardship is transformed into enduring beauty – a testament to how the role models we uncover continue to inspire and shape who we become. MAIN CREATOR’S STATEMENT Finding Frida is a documentary VR experience where past and present intertwine in an exploration of art, family and the power of human creativity. Photorealistic 3D scans, dreamlike projections and animated artwork blend with a soundscape of reworked foley and an original musical score. Voice-over drawn from interviews with Frida Hansen and contemporary historical sources seeks authenticity within a dreamlike world while shedding new light on a forgotten female artist. Central to the work is the value of role models, and how VR allows resonance to travel back and forth through time.