Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography

Free admission | #nordicphoto

ASF Members’Preview: Friday, February 21, 12 – 6 pm Opening Reception: Saturday, February 22, 6 – 8 pm

Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography presents over 30 recent works by 10 emerging and established photographers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden whose practices demonstrate the breadth and strength of Nordic photography today: Thora Dolven Balke, Tonje Bøe Birkeland, JH Engström, Joakim Eskildsen, Ulla Jokisalo, Bára Kristinsdóttir, Tova Mozard, Nelli Palomäki, Katya Sander, and Pétur Thomsen.

Focusing on a diverse selection of recent photographic works, Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography illuminates the ways in which light—both measured and perceived—informs the practice of contemporary Nordic photographers. Tonje Bøe Birkeland takes on the role of fictional photographer Luelle Madgalon Lumiére and recreates an imaginary journey to the Orkney Islands. Tova Mozard stages a psychological drama, starring her mother, grandmother, and herself in conversation with a therapist on the stage of Stockholm’s Royal Dramatic Theatre. And Joakim Eskildsen, in a series of works shot in New York, California, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Georgia, examines the growing crisis of American poverty.

The exhibition is organized by leading figures in the world of Nordic photographic art: Ingrid Fischer Jonge, Director and Jens Friis, Curator, Brandts Museum of Photographic Art, Denmark; Elina Heikka, Director of The Finnish Museum of Photography, Finland; María Karen Sigurðardóttir, Director of the Reykjavík Museum of Photography, Iceland; Ingrid Nilsson, Director of the Preus Museum, Norway; and Anna Tellgren, Ph.D., Curator of Photography at Moderna Museet, Sweden.

Darkness & Light Audio Tour
Use your cell phone to learn more about Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography! Hear the exhibition’s curators share their thoughts on a work by each artist and guide you through the exhibition.

Call 1.212.514.0013 to begin the free audio tour (no cost except your minutes)!

Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography has been made possible by a generous grant from the Nordic Culture Fund, with additional support provided by Frame Visual Arts Finland and Moderna Museet, Sweden. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Consulate General of Denmark, New York; the Consulate General of Finland in New York; the Consulate General of Iceland in New York; the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York; the Consulate General of Sweden in New York; SWEA New Jersey Chapter; and the Office for Contemporary Art Norway. Additional support has come from the following Funds of The American-Scandinavian Foundation: The Bonnier Family Fund for Contemporary Art; The Icelandic Cultural Fund; The F. Donald Kenney Fund for the Visual Arts; The Elle Leppälä Kronquist from Kuru, Finland, and William Kronquist from Narpes, Finland, and Dr. Laura Kronquist Mesaros Memorial Endowment Fund; The Norwegian Centennial Cultural Fund; and The Hilppa Roby Fund for Finnish Cultural and Educational Programs at Scandinavia House.