Lines

The thin lines comes from a series called Vandret Linje. In this series, I have copied archaeological drawings from different scientific works regarding the historical Sámi settlements in the area I come from. They look abstract, but are in reality concretizations of dwellings, sea levels, migrating routes, stone tools, and so on.

I drew this series because I wanted to draw, but there was nothing specific I wanted to show, or show off. I merely wanted to watch the line being drawn. I found a lot of freedom in copying. These thin lined figures have been part of my aesthetic bank for a long time. As a Sámi, I am often forced into conversations about Who Were Here First. Having read up on this issue helps, even when the topic isn’t very interesting, and I have leafed through these reports on various occasions. I always found the figures and drawings intriguing. Some of them are drawn with the book in hand, others by memory.

The thicker lines are shellac poured on different kind of paper. Poured, and rolled to a line. I wanted to see what the material did if I intervened as little as possible. I find an openness in this. If I do as little as possible, and let the material lead, the result belongs to the viewer as much as to the creator.

The prints are made form an ongoing work with cotton grass.