“I wanted to portray the violent transformation of nature in the European periphery. I have experienced that the concept of wilderness, and virgin land untouched by humans, has disintegrated.” –Helene Schmitz
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Fotografiska / Transitions
Helene Schmitz
Photographer
Helene Schmitz’s photography often centers on man’s complicated relationship with nature. In several photographic projects, she has explored the power balance between man and nature – and when it goes off kilter.
Helene Schmitz studied at Stockholm University. She has a BA in Film and Art History. Her numerous solo shows in Sweden include Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde (2018), Skellefteå Konsthall (2017), Fotografiska, Stockholm (2011, 2016), Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg (2015), Kristinehamns Konstmuseum (2012), and Galleri Leger, Malmö (2007). She has participated in several group exhibitions, including Away A Way, Landskrona Museum (2018), Struktur, Avesta Art, Avesta (2016) and Another Story at Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2011).
Schmitz is also active internationally and has been shown at Turn Gallery, New York (2017, 2015), Herbarium Fotografi og Botanik, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen (2017), Willas Contemporary, Oslo, QPN #19 CHAOS, Nantes, France (2015), Art’15, London (2015), Galerie Maria Lund, Paris (2013, 2016), Maison de la Photographie, Lille (2010), and Centre Culturel Suèdois in Paris (2007).
Schmitz’s artistic œuvre has also featured in several award winning books where she has collaborated with writers, philosophers and historians of ideas, including Thinking Like a Mountain (2018)), Borderlands (2015), Ur Regnskogens Skugga (2011), System och Passion (2007) and Blow Up (2003).
Both Blow Up and Ur Regnskogens Skugga were nominated for the August Award, and System och Passion has been translated into English (A Passion for Systems), French and Japanese. Schmitz was also commissioned to design stamps for the Swedish post office (PostNord) in 2015. She is represented in many prominent collections: The Danish Agency for Culture, Denmark, the National Public Art Council, Sweden, Oslo Municipality, Norway, Moderna Museet, Sweden, the SEB Collection, Sweden, the Cultural Administration of the Stockholm County Council, Sweden, and in numerous Swedish and international private collections.
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