Botanic Altars

Grosell’s works explore the contrast between cute and morbid aspects of human, societal and natural phenomena, aiming to evoke both affection and unease. For her bachelor, she has investigated how to connect humans with nature in urban landscapes, creating resource habitats for insects in a series of ceramic sculptures. 

My artistic practice is a fusion of traditional craftsmanship, design, and experimental artistry, resulting in the creation of large, sculptural, and functional objects primarily in clay. At the heart of my work lies the exploration of the interplay between hyperfemininity and the sometimes unsettling elements of the natural world. With clay and glaze as my medium, I form soft shapes in delicate colors reflecting the closeness and security, I wish to place in the hands of individuals who have yet to discover it.

Through the use of glazes in shades of purple and pink, I enhance the feminine expression infusing sensitivity and humanity, often associated with superficialness. But beneath the pink playfulness, there’s always an underlying unease in my work. Stories of human defense mechanisms, often mirrored in natural biological phenomena, serve as a key to understanding ourselves. The nuances of my work often relies in the contrast of hyperfemininity, and natural phenomena such as decay. For me, the synthetic and the natural are not binary but can coexist. Therefore, they should be embraced rather than condemned.

Growing up on Amager, with its distinctive culture, dialect and stereotypes, has profoundly influenced my artistic journey. Encountering resistance in school made me passionate about drawing, eventually leading me to discover clay as a direct nerve from my head to my hands.

My father is a fisherman, and as a child, I was obsessed with animals, dinosaurs, and insects. Growing older, my love shifted to horses. I cared for them meticulously, brushing and braiding them till perfection. There’s something interesting about how we often condescend “horse girls”, where the ultra feminine aesthetic associated with is often dismissed and not taken seriously. I observe a trend in contemporary art that’s very feminine, and breaks away from historically male dominated spheres, allowing femininity to exist and demand its place in the world without shame, guilt, or negative connotations.

Moving to Bornholm has been a transformative experience, reigniting childhood passions and shaping my artistic focus. Through my art, I seek to evoke emotions, challenge perceptions, and offer insights into the complexities of human experience. In my opinion, the experience of art is largely about emotions and senses. It's about everything that cannot be put into words but arises between the eye, the body, and the materiality and tactility of the works, that I wish to make accessible for individuals who haven't traditionally been exposed to it.