Home › 2021-12-18 FOCUS ON: Elin Berge

2021-12-18 FOCUS ON: Elin Berge

During the period 17-31decembre 2021 Malmö fotobiennal will focus on one of the selected artist on each day. The photographers/artist are all included in the curated exhibition: UTOPIA | A NOWHERE LAND

We are so happy to be able to present Elin Berge serie “Awakening” on this years exhibition. – Susanne Fessé, curator and art historian writes: -Elin Berge’s photography is genuine. It originates in honesty. She has continuously worked in the same territories of ideas and remains firmly rooted in them. She possesses the delicacy to be open for what she encounters. Her work is not judgmental, only curious. Just as within philosophy, she’s able to ask questions rather than pushing a thesis. That is her artistic strength.”
Elin is a member of the Scandinavian photographer’s collective Moment and represented by INSTITUTE artist.

Elin Berge (b. 1978) lives and works in Umeå, Sweden. She holds a degree in Photojournalism from Nordens Fotoskola, Biskops-Arnö. Additional to her own projects in still image and documentary film, she works with various clients on commission. She regularly gives artist talks and lectures. Elin has produced four photo books and a documentary film. She has had several solo exhibitions and her work is represented in the collection of the Hasselblad Foundation. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the Lars Tunbjörk Grant 2020, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and the Swedish Authors Fund.

“Fire Walk II, Sacred Womb Women’s Festival, Ängsbacka, 2017” Firewalking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of glowing, hot embers. It’s a transformation ritual. The leader Grandmother Ana instructs around a hundred women during this ceremony and the idea is to make the women overcome fears and obstacles and embody an understanding of their strength and courage. Most of the women chose to perform the ritual naked. “We’re starting a new world where women are in charge”, says Grandmother Ana in her pep-talk.
“Moon Circle, Umeå, 2019” Camilla (in red and green), who is an educated Love Priestess, has organized a Moon Circle to celebrate the return of Spring. The women gather by the Ume River in the sunset to sing and drum, meditate and share their stories.
“Elin, Mother Earth Yoik, Sacred Womb Women’s Festival, Ängsbacka, 2019” Elin is Sami and holds a workshop at the Sacred Womb Women’s Festival called Singing the Wild Yoik Workshop. She instructs in Sami Yoik and how to connect with the life spirit, or Mother Earth, through the voice. She felt drawn to this stone and started to sing for it.
“Aum and Jacqui, Sacred Womb Women’s Festival, Ängsbacka, 2017” A part of the liberation process is to celebrate the female body. Instead of thinking of it as shameful or sinful, or as an object for judgment and adaptation to the ideals in society, women are encouraged to be proud of their bodies, whatever the form it has. Within the movement the female body is considered as sacred.

Leave a Reply