5/17/2017 Interview with photographer Maren KlempThe photography of Maren Klemp is a glimpse into the dark, a place where sight has not totally failed us, working along the borderlands of what Klemp calls the invisible disease, these unforgettable images are not just about novel aesthetics, although that is the import of any artistic undertaking, they are also, admirably, an attempt to erase the stigma attached to mental illness, to document what the inside of one's mind feels like, gripped and paralyzed in the dark throes of depression and cognitive collapse. These are stories of life split from within, occupying two worlds, the surface and the inner depth of mind and body. Klemp works with the unseen as a way of making it seen, heard, tasted, felt, alive, real, and unforgettable. AHC: Part of your goal with photography, admirably, is to raise awareness of mental illness through your work. Could you talk us through your approach and philosophy behind this, and also about your book, Between Intervals? Maren: Yes. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder a few years back, and although it was a relief to get to know what I had been struggling with for so many years, it was hard to learn that I would probably struggle with this disease for the rest of my life. I suddenly felt an urge to document what I was feeling, so I drew sketches and started planning the images. By placing myself in front of the camera it was easier to convey the message of the image, and I have been working with self-portraiture ever since. In 2014 I travelled to Charleston, South Carolina to work with Jose Escobar, a photographer and at the time, a professor of literature at the College of Charleston. Jose first contacted me on Flickr saying that he loved my work. After a while we discovered that out work «spoke the same language» and we decided to make a book together, and the result is «Between Intervals». The book contains a beautiful foreword by Jose, and my portraits mixed with Jose’s dark and isolated landscapes of the American South. AHC: You've referred to your work as a plunge into the darker regions of the mind, and since that must be such an intense creative process, I wonder what you do to find islands of respite, peace and calm, after the grueling intensity of the work? Also, can you explore some of the reasons why it is so necessary that we confront these darker regions of ourselves, in art but also in our own lives and psyches? Maren: The whole process of creating an image is emotionally draining to me. I go all in, and I reveal a lot about my own thoughts and state of mind through my work, but when I have finished an image that I have been planning for a long time, I feel an inner calm and relief. I have received so much feedback from people all around the world, and many of them have thanked me for publishing this work and told me that they can relate to the images. This makes it all worth it, and gives me the feeling of creating something important. There is still a lot of stigma attached to mental illness, and I believe that by confronting and educating people on this matter, we can remove some of the stigma and the shame that comes with having a mental illness. AHC: What first drew you to photography? Was there a specific moment in your life or turning point where it became clear to you that you were being called to create? Maren: As a teenager I wrote poetry and short stories, but I was also searching for a way to express myself visually. I had no talent for either drawing or painting, so when I started experiment with my new camera given to me by my father, I realized that I had a talent for photography, and I have been eating, breathing and sleeping photography ever since. AHC: Your series Whisper in the Mist has an almost fairy tale like quality, are you inspired by folklore and fairy tales at all and has it informed some of the photographic narratives, especially behind this series? Maren: Yes, I am inspired by fairy tales. The Norwegian folklore is both dark and beautiful, and I always try to incorporate some elements form it in my work. My favorite one is a story about a female character named Huldra, a beautiful woman from the underworld with a cow’s tale. AHC: Who are some of your artistic influences? Is there anyone outside of the art/photography world whose work has impacted your own, or who just generally inspire you, writers, filmmakers, musicians etc? Maren: I’m inspired by painters like John William Waterhouse, Odd Nerdrum, Jana Brike and Edward Hopper. I also find inspiration in the poetry of Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton and Edgar Allan Poe. AHC: What is the first work of art/photography you encountered that took your breath away? Maren: The very first work of art that really took my breath away was the book Immediate Family by Sally Mann. It completely changed the way I approached my photography, and spent hours and hours studying her work, something I still do to this day. There are so many layers of stories and expressions in her work, that I discover something new each time I open this book. AHC: Are there times when you become blocked creatively? What do you do to rekindle inspiration? Maren: Yes, absolutely. If I feel completely blocked I often meditate in order to get my creativity flowing. I also go to thrift stores and flee markets in search for interesting props, or drive around for hours searching for interesting locations. I also go for walks in the woods to see if I can find something that I can work with. I used to panic if I felt blocked creatively, but I have learned that every artist experiences this from time to time, and that it will pass eventually. AHC: Do you have any upcoming exhibits or new projects you'd like to tell people about? Maren: I just had a solo-exhibition at Galerie LIK in Vienna this April, and at the same time I participated in a group-exhibition in Galleria Civica, Desenzano, Italy. Although both exhibitions are now closed, my work is still available at Galerie LIK. I am also planning on publishing a new book with my latest work, which will be the sequel of «Between Intervals». All images © Maren Elize Klemp (provided courtesy of the artist) For more visit marenklemp.photoshelter.com/index Comments are closed.
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