Being Here

• Prize
  Bronze in Book/Fine Art
• Photographer
  Oyvind Hjelmen

Opening with a poem by Nobel laureate Jon Fosse, the book takes readers on a visually poetic and interior journey of enigmatic photography. The collection reflects a human desire or inclination to leave a mark, to express “I was here", even if only momentarily. As the open narrative unfolds page by page, evocative themes emerge: home, travel, awakening, abandonment, transcendence, wandering, loneliness, reflection, and memory. The book allows viewers to decode the layers and narratives while inevitably drawing their feelings, memories, and associations into the personal yet universal images.

Øyvind Hjelmen lives and works on the island of Stord, off the west-coast of Norway. He is a fine art photographer specializing in hand-printed black and white images, hand bound artists books and portfolios, and larger format unique photograms. He holds a BA in modern art and aesthetics from the University of Bergen. Working with photography for more than 25 years, his works have been exhibited in 14 countries. Among the collections that hold his works are The Museum of Fine Art in Houston, USA. He has also published five books, among them two monographs.