MILLE KALSMOSE

Words by Caroline Ryan 

Curated by Emil Nissen

Artwork photgraphy by David Stjernholm

There’s an exquisite tension in Trine Søndergaard’s photographic work. Her poetic composition married with a keen precision makes for compelling viewing. Through a documentary-style approach, Trine delves into what it means to be human, while her loose interpretation of past and present lends a perennial feeling to her imagery. 

In recent times, how, if at all, do you think our connection to others and the world itself has changed?

I believe that we, as a humanity, are in the middle of a new wave of growth, and within the last couple of thousand years, we have been given the capability to create the world that we live in through ourselves. Though it wasn't until recent years that a larger number of us are starting to do that as consciously as possible. Through this way of thinking, that we are capable of creating the world we live in, you also come to understand that we are entirely interconnected with the world. Not just with our friends, family, and country, but with everyone and everything created, both organic and technological. We are living in an anthropocentric time. Today, we are more connected than ever: algorithms and big data are present in most aspects of our lives, but the technological advances are created by us, and therefore a continuation or extension of ourselves. This undoubtedly affects our relation to others, to ourselves and to the world around us.

In Humanness, Inner Studies in a Collective Cloud (2021), the focus is on an individual, who, now more than ever, exists in both the physical and the digital sphere. An individual, who is subject to high demands, both when it comes to self-optimization and self-realization. And because of that, I think that for many people, it can be useful to enter a space of reflection, to pursue an alternative. Something that is also described by Katharina C. Husemann and Giana M. Eckhardt as Consumer Deceleration (This term describes how we long for deceleration, which can be reached through reinforcement of our relationship and connection with ourselves and one another). In Inner Studies in a Collective Cloud (2021), the participant has the option of fantasizing and reflecting on what they spend their time on – what they spend their lives and thoughts on - and if that really is what they want. In that way, it’s an exercise in autonomy, in re-establishing control of your own life.  

Where do you go when you’re feeling uninspired?

I can get inspired from anything, but anything that keeps me connected with the Universe. I get uplifted with Gaia, William Whitecloud, and that kind of thinking and particularly the vibe of New York – which is where I also have a studio – is inspiring in itself, especially when I started the Collected Memory Series, which has its roots in the United Nations Moonshot event.

Portrait Photgraphy by Lizette Mikkelsen