Gjert Rognli grew up in the Sea Sámi village of Manndalen, northern Norway. For more than a century, the community was subjected to the state-led and forced “Norwegianisation” assimilation policy, which suppressed Indigenous languages and traditions. Today, it is a centre for Sámi cultural revitalisation. Rognli’s What Nature Knows series is inspired by his heritage and experiences, as well as the region’s extreme light, pervasive darkness and shifting seasons. These images sit at the intersection of environmental art, photography, sculpture and surrealism. For four years in a row, from late summer until the snow in October, Rognli wandered the countryside seeking sites for photographs. “I illuminated nature with LED lights, built installations out in the landscape, and submerged artworks underwater,” he recalls. By using smoke cartridges and long shutter speeds, Rognli builds enigmatic scenes imbued with real wonder. gjert-rognli.com | @art_photography_sapmi

Image Credits:

1. Gjert Rognli, Arctic Glow. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.
2. Gjert Rognli, Ephemeral Odyssey. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.
3. Gjert Rognli, The Arrival. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.
4. Gjert Rognli, Beyond the Mountains. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.
5. Gjert Rognli, Genesis. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.
6. Gjert Rognli, The Passage. From the series What Nature Knows. Image courtesy of the artist.