Henriette Ebbesen

Spejlbilleder

The photograph is a medium that is regularly used to portray reality. When seeing a photograph we therefore oftentimes presume it to be trustworthy and real. In my works I aim to play with this sense of reality that we relate to the photograph by distorting the objects and space within the picture frame. The mirror is used as a tool in all images of the series to distort the objects, space and body elements within the picture frame. With these effects I aim to surprise and confuse and leave one with the question of what is real. My works are mostly made in outdoor surroundings as a mean to use the nature as a representation of the natural element in my works. The mirrors work as a way to manipulate the body, the nature and other natural elements. In this way I want to illustrate how we slowly move away from reality merging with a surreal, parallel world. In Danish “Spejlbilleder” both contains the meaning “reflections” and “mirror images” and just like this word I aim to confront the two sided reality that surrounds us: on a psychological level I believe we can perceive ourselves as puzzles consisting of bricks and pieces that form us when all put together. In a biological perspective we were conceived by the fusion of a cell from our mother and a cell from our father that both contained billions of pieces of genetic material from each one of our forefathers. At the same time cosmetic surgery and genetic manipulation makes almost anything possible in the strive of fulfilling society’s expectations of beauty and perfectness. However, in the strive for “perfectness” we alienate ourselves from reality, leaving it questionable what reality really looks like. My use of strong light and bright colors are as used conceptually as a symbol for life, hope, and happiness. The vanity and fragility of life are depicted in my use of common vanitas symbols as well as in the surreal effects that serve as a constant reminder of an underlying fear and anxiety.

Photographer

Henriette Sabroe Ebbesen

Henriette Sabroe Ebbesen (b. 1994) is an autodidact photographer and film director from Copenhagen, Denmark. Formally educated as a Medical Doctor, Ebbesen is interested in the intersection between science and art. Her artworks are small science experiments on how the human body, psyche and world in general can be visualized and interpreted, depending on the mind and eyes of the beholder.

Ebbesen works with reflections to create surreal effects in her work: "In my work I aim to play with the sense of reality that we relate to the photograph by distorting the objects and space within the picture frame. With these effects I aim to surprise and confuse and leave one with the question of what is real." Conceptually her works often deal with identity and the subconscious self affected by and interrelated to the surrounding world.

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