'Meet the Artist' is a new section of the website where we chat with one of our favourite artists about their work and life.

This week we sat down with Norwegian photographer Anja Niemi.




Hi Anja, we love your work. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

You’ve studied at the London College of Printing in London and Parsons School of Design in Paris and New York. Having studied printing and design, how and when did you come to be a photographer?

I did major in photography, I knew after shooting my first roll of black and white film, as a teenager, that I wanted to be a photographer. For the the first time I was able to actually visualise the things in my head, it felt amazing.

What was your first camera?

Hasselblad 501c.

Your earlier photographs take place in what seems like abandoned and dilapidated buildings, why do these settings interest you?

I felt some kind of similarity at the time, they were so empty and future-less. I felt at home.

How do you achieve the haunting ghost-like effect? And how and why did you come to incorporate it into your work?

I liked melting into the houses, it made me feel light and less present. It is simply done with a combination of  a long exposure, the direction of the light and my movement.

Your ‘Porcelain’ collection of horses shot in a studio seems like a departure from your earlier self-portraits and also your latest work in hotel rooms. What brought you to using animals as your subject?

I made the horses when my first daughter was just born, I wanted to make her something beautiful to protect her from the sometimes daunting content of my self portraits.

You live in both London and Oslo. How do you split your time?

My work is mostly in London, but my family life is in Oslo.

What do you like best about both places?

I like a nice and slow pace life so Oslo is great, we have the woods, mountains and the ocean right here. For my work I prefer a faster pace, and I am very lucky to be able to have both.

Do you work more in digital or film, and which do you prefer and why?

I love working with film, but sometimes digital is more practical. For my latest work I have been alone, doing self portraits, and its much easier to forget the camera, when I can program it to take a series of pictures  over a certain time.



In March next year you’ll be exhibiting at the Little Black Gallery in London. What can you tell us about this exhibition?

The exhibition is called 'Do not disturb' and opens 21 March.

What can we expect to see in terms of direction and subject matter in your new work for the exhibition? 

It is a new self portrait series, only this time I pack a suitcase containing none of my personal belongings, only unfamiliar clothes and accessories, and check into a hotel.

Do you have much artwork hanging in your home? If so, which artists and what sort of work do you have on your walls?

I do, my house would feel empty without it! it´s a mix of paintings, photography (I have a fantastic portrait of Björk by Bjørn Opsahl) , and my oldest daughter's drawings (although she claimes mostly to draw poo).

Who are your artistic influences?

Although i work very intuitively, i do feel inspired by movies, and often watch David Lynch films just to look at the color pallet.

Do you always carry a camera around with you?

No, almost never, only when I am on set working on a project. I do try to photograph my family, but they rarely have the patience to stand still, I am a very slow shooter!

How many cameras do you have?

Oh, around ten maybe...

Do you practice any other art forms?

I was very lucky to be able to make a film a few years ago, and I really would love to do that again!

When you’re not making photographs, what can you be found doing?

I am actually really dull, mostly I play with my kids and try to keep a tidy house.


To see Anja's work, click here.


Image 1: Room 81 Bed
Image 2: Room 80



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