Norwegian photographer Monica Takvam will display her projects ‘Janteloven – Small Town Mentality’ and ‘See You, See Me’ at Menier Gallery in Southwark between 2 and 6 June.
The concept behind the series of photographs is based on a well-known Scandinavian word often used to describe the negative side of small-town mentality and people's ability to suppress others. Janteloven, meaning the law of Jante, is a term that originates from a novel written in 1933 by Aksel Sandemose, which exposes the destructive effects of growing up in a small town. The single word Janteloven has become a well-respected and famous term widely used in daily speech and it has even established value as a formal term in social psychology.
Takvam has explored how this concept of restraint of individual encouragement is transferable to communities all over the world. ‘Through this project I have explored the various pressures associated with these laws, and how their negative repercussions can have severe mental and emotional impacts when placed on individuals both in rural and in larger communities,’ says Takvam while discussing her latest project.
The photographic project ‘See You, See Me’ is a collaboration with blind and visually impaired people, exploring how knowledge and perception is linked with each other. Takvam met people of different degrees of blindness, ranging from being able to see light and shadow to being totally blind their whole life, and asked them all how they see themselves. Through using ones senses, tactile portraits with Braille punctured into the actual photographs and the voices of the people portrayed, provides an insight into how vision and sight plays a role in perceiving oneself and others.
Monica Takvam is a photographic artist living and working in London. Her work has been shown in group shows both in the UK and in Norway. In 2008, her work was published in Issue 47 of Portfolio Magazine, and she received an honourable mention in two categories for the work ‘Janteloven- Small Town Mentality’ in the International Photography Award- IPA.
Monica Takvam
‘Janteloven – Small Town Mentality’ and ‘See You, See Me’
2 June to 6 June
Menier Gallery
Menier Chocolate Factory
51 Southwark Street
London SE1 1RU
