Time by the Sea

Through the lens of latent histories and unfolding futures: a unique community’s legacy and its global ties, fused with personal stories and local lore, shed light on globalization’s broad impact.

The book “Time by the Sea” will explore cultural identity, historical colonial legacies, environmental shifts, and globalization - set against the backdrop of Lyngør, hailed as ‘Europe’s Best-Preserved Village’ by the EU. Grounded in my twelfth-generation heritage in Lyngør, this project will navigate the village’s maritime history while addressing contemporary environmental and social challenges. Johan Harstad will provide an opening essay setting a broader context for the themes explored.

Lyngør‘s maritime history will be explored by PhD Håkon Haugland at Kuben Museum and Archives in Arendal. His research will shed light on the island’s rich maritime history, tracing its history from the age of sail to present-day transformations and its significance on a global scale.

The Battle of Lyngør in 1812, a decisive event that contributed to the Treaty of Kiel and Norway’s steps towards independence, emphasizes the islands’ place in broader historical contexts. Furthermore, the project reflects on how globalization has shaped and affected life in Lyngør, exploring questions about the future in the light of climate change and tourism’s impact. With Norwegian record-high property prices, there is tension between preserving Lyngør’s rich historical heritage and the pressures of commercial development.

Through conceptual seascapes and landscapes, I will offer insights into the island’s natural allure and ambiance. Encapsulating the essence of relinquishing control and reflecting on the unpredictable forces shaping our world. Through these images, I will explore human vulnerability and our collective destiny amidst the uncertainties of nature and societal shifts.

Additionally, I will look into my grandfather’s experiences as a war sailor between LA and Lima, and miner in La Oroya, Peru, examining the impacts of global trade and environmental issues. Highlighting the broader contexts of maritime trade and its global ramifications. This narrative, including reflections on contemporary Lyngør, will be penned by Simen Tveitereid.

Through portraits of Lyngør’s remaining 45 residents set against the backdrop of their homes, the project will present a fusion of person and place, revealing the island’s architectural character as much as its human one. Each image will not only frame individuals within the context of their historical dwellings but also reflect on the architecture as a silent witness to the community’s deep-rooted history and cultural heritage. This showcases the profound connection between the residents and their environment, illustrating how deeply the threads of personal and collective history are woven into the fabric of daily life.

In the final sections of the book, I pay respects to my mentor Dag Alveng by including images from his project ‘I Love this Time of Year,’ where he uniquely multiexposed Manhattan with four rotations of the camera. In my series ‘I Love this Time of Year too,’ I use the same method to capture Lyngør’s through autumn, winter, and spring. This connection bridges Lyngør with New York—a familiar port for local sailors—and rings true with the residents of Lyngør.

As a thank you for participating in the portraits, the people of Lyngør are invited to choose an image from the series. The images they pick will not only feature in the book but will also hang in their homes, in the very houses that form the backdrop to their portraits. In this way, the book becomes a collaborative creation, and their homes part of the exhibit, adding a personal layer to their connection with the place and its story.

In the narrative, there are brief mentions of my background to provide context to the deeper themes of the book. I grew up in Lyngør, rowing to school, which reflects a daily life closely tied to the sea. My father’s work as a sailmaker is also noted, illustrating the traditional skills that continue to shape our community. Additionally, I have experience sailing across the Atlantic in a pilot cutter built in 1894, highlighting a personal connection to maritime heritage. Echoing this, the book’s cover will be bound in canvas – a nod to both the traditional sailmaker's craft and the constant presence of the sea in Lyngør life. Ideally, or perhaps in a special edition, this canvas will be repurposed from actual sails that have weathered the seas. In this way, the book not only tells a story but is also wrapped in the very fabric of seafaring history, making each copy a unique artifact that carries the spirit of maritime adventure.

Finally, dr. philos. Dag O. Hessen leads us into a reflection on the future of Lyngør, leaving us with questions about how the island's community can adapt to the upcoming times marked by change.

“Time by the Sea” is woven from the capacity of photography to depict time, from the historical depths of Lyngør to personal and potentially future stories captured through contemporary images and experimental techniques. The project reflects on the latent - both in the analog medium’s ability to hold moments before they become visible, and in the lives of the remaining residents as bearers of an immediate, yet fleeting past. It also explores personal documentaries from travels, linking individual experiences to broader global contexts, and experiments with exposures that capture multiple layers of time in a single image. Through this diversity of visual languages, “Time by the Sea” invites deeper contemplation on photography’s role in capturing and conveying the fleetness of history, the layers of memory, and how the unseen and the forthcoming are woven into the present landscape.

The conclusion of ‘Time by the Sea’ therefore seeks to elevate our perspective – it is about preserving not just the memory of a place but also recognizing the values of diversity and specificity that small communities bring to the global narrative. As we witness these processes unfold in Lyngør, a universal issue is mirrored: the challenges of maintaining cultural richness in the face of the compelling forces of our time. The photographs thus serve as a bridge between the local and the universal, inviting us to reflect on what is at stake in a rapidly changing world.