Hege Dons Samsetis a Norwegian artist, who lives and works in Berlin and Oslo. After a
one year Foundation course in Oslo, she completed a
Communication/Photography degree in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has
travelled extensively and has exhibited work in a number of locations
across the world...
I do not call myself a photographer, I do not see the need to classify what I do. To me, it is more interesting to discuss the message, what the artwork wants to express, rather than the medium. In Norway, photography was traditionally seen as a profession, a craft, rather than art, meaning you were seen as a ‘photographer' rather than an ‘artist'. I found there was a very different approach in the UK, which corresponded much more to the way I felt.
The art school in Norway only accepted 6 persons every year and I thought it would be more interesting to be exposed to a bigger class. When I started my degree in Edinburgh, I found we had to follow a program and were given specific tasks. From my previous course in Oslo, I was used to working more independently, so was not always motivated for this. However, I did appreciate the freedom to develop my own style, and having access to excellent equipment and facilities.
Something that attracted me to studying in Scotland was the landscape, I have always been inspired by nature and drawn ideas from landscape. I need nature to feel connected to myself and get things in perspective. I spend a lot of time researching and scouting for locations, and landscapes are like stages to me. The need for solitary landscapes and places is what makes me most Norwegian.
Edinburgh is very beautiful. It's relatively small and has a fascinating history. It is a very relaxing place to be, is friendly and social, and feels quite safe too. The best thing for me was that Glasgow is so close and is so different. I found Edinburgh could be a bit ‘too nice', and I needed the grittiness of Glasgow. Glasgow has a lot more going on in terms of concerts, exhibitions, seminars etc.
I am a curious person, so I explored the most I could of the UK, as well as parts of Ireland. I made lots of friends at college and we made several big trips together. London is easy to get to from Edinburgh, and it was great to have access to a big city whilst studying.
The years in art college are a fantastic time, a great opportunity to explore, test, try out new things and learn in a safe environment. You have the support of teachers and students around, and get feedback that you rarely have later in your career. It is a great time to find your own ‘voice' and think about what you really want to do.
I believe I am a mix of various cultures. From each country I have lived I have tried to take the things I like and assimilate them to make my own cultural identity. Maybe others can see how my Norwegian identity comes across in my work, but it is not something I am thinking of. I feel very global.
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