With the photography project «It`s all around you - Buot leat du birra» Gjert Rognli draws in references from his affiliation to the Arctic North, to light, darkness and the seasons. In this project, he uses fragments from the intangible cultural heritage from his Sámi Indigenous background. And he invites us on a mythological journey into deep forests and over misty landscapes. He illuminates nature with LED lights and creates light installations in the landscape.
With the photography project «It`s all around you - Buot leat du birra» Gjert Rognli draws in references from his affiliation to the Arctic Northern Norway, to light, darkness and the seasons. For two years, Rognli wandered in the Arctic landscape, in the deep valleys and up on the plains. From late summer until the snow came in October to find suitable locations for the photo project. At the same time, autumn was on its way with its wonderful polar light and darkness. In the project, he uses the intangible cultural heritage that he came into close contact with during his upbringing in northern Norway. He grew up in a Sea Sámi village that had been through brutal colonialism from the Norwegian authorities. Much of Sámi history, especially from the 18th century, is characterized by oppression, missionary work and a strong idea of assimilation. The policy of assimilation of the Sámi indigenous population in Norway and other Scandinavian countries has continued until modern times, through church, school and other means. But he got to experience the remains of an old Sami culture and natural religion. There were some who had not given up the old culture of using nature as a healing force, a shamanistic knowledge that goes back several 1000 years. This type of experience has created legends and stories that are linked to his Sami cultural heritage, a way of life and closeness to nature that has benefited him today as a source of inspiration for his work. Now he invites us on a mythological journey into deep forests and over misty landscapes. He illuminates nature with LED lights and lowers light sculptures underwater, as well as builds light installations out in the landscape.