Senay Berhe is in his second year at the Royal Institute of Art and works as an artist with film and photography. The exhibition “A Familiar Feeling of Now” is the third in Fotografiska’s series Emerging Artists, where Swedish talents share their visions with the audience.
What is your relationship with photography?
Nowadays, everyone is a photographer, with constant access to cameras. When I was a kid, only special occasions were documented. I like digitalization – it’s fast, and the threshold to image-making is lower. But I rarely use the phone for photography; I use a camera. I decided in 2016 to work with photography, but I have been taking photos since way back. I have a background in film, but when all my photographer friends started filming, I chose to focus on photography. I’ve done music videos and other projects; some thoughts and ideas resurface, and here at school, I have started to explore the film format again.
How would you describe your visual world?
I usually see my images without a beginning and without an end, but somewhere in the middle. I also like what the images themselves convey; I don’t always know the feeling, but the image can be an impression of the place where one is, in the mind. I like tranquility. I have just returned from a six-week trip to Kenya and Zanzibar, where I filmed and photographed many different beautiful, often meditative environments. I like nature and often return to a mix of nature and suburb, like where I grew up in Fisksätra. As a million-program area, it is very out of place, right in the middle of the forest. The kind of “malplacé” environments is something I often photograph, places with a kind of contradiction.
Why did you apply to the Royal Institute of Art?
I applied to Mejan for the first time 20 years ago after attending a preparatory school. I didn’t get in then and continued working with images. During the COVID years, I had a moment of reflection – I should do what I really want. I think it suits me well, to bring more experience into my education. Something I’ve started to think about is how important health and well-being are, taking care of oneself. I had a lot to do with four exhibitions last semester, and the exhibition at Fotografiska meant intensive work for a couple of months. You have to take care of yourself; I try to set boundaries.
Tell us more about your current exhibition at Fotografiska.
I pondered the title back and forth but eventually settled on “A Familiar Feeling of Now.” The familiar feeling summarizes my view of everyday life, where I try to show the tranquility of the present. The exhibition is the third in a theme that Fotografiska calls Emerging Artists. I present photographic works that date back to 2016 when I started photographing, from my time in New York, among other places.
What’s next for you?
I would like to work with art in public spaces, work with light and moving images, projections, public installations. There’s a lot to delve into, permits, and technical solutions, but it would be fun to reach people in their everyday environments. I draw impressions and inspiration from new experiences, places, film, music, friends, family, life that is ongoing. I never get tired of everyday life.
Senay Berhe:A Familliar Feeling of Now
Fotografiska Stockholm, 17 november 2023 – 10 mars 2024
