Photographic artist Kasper Dalkarl explores the profound relationship between a mother and son in his works. He observes that art history has rarely depicted an adult son with his aging mother; instead, it has traditionally focused on idyllic moments between young mothers and small children or, conversely, on portrayals of very old mothers. Dalkarl’s exhibition at Hippolyte Korjaamo is a collaboration with his mother, Åsa Dalkarl-Gustavsson. The photographs were taken in locations that hold personal significance for both. The recurring symbolism of water throughout the works evokes themes of life, death, and rebirth.

In his photographs, Kasper Dalkarl reflects on the changes in an adult relationship following the sudden and unexpected death of his father, Ole Gustavsson, in 2015. This traumatic event was a shock to both his mother and himself, and during the grieving process, their relationship evolved. Rather than fulfilling the stereotypical expectation that the son should step into his father’s shoes, a friendly and equal relationship developed between them, where they supported each other through the changes. These experiences formed the foundation for Dalkarl’s artistic project and its first images.

During the grieving process, the dialogue between Kasper and Åsa deepened, revealing shared experiences that were difficult to articulate. On the day of Ole Gustavsson’s death, both felt an intense sense of discomfort and unease, despite being hundreds of kilometers away from where the event took place. Subconsciously, they seemed to know what had happened before the official news reached them. In later conversations, they realized that Ole had appeared in their dreams in similar forms and with identical messages. This experience underscored the extraordinary and inexplicable bond between mother and son—one that appeared to transcend the boundaries of time and space.

In addition to the mother-son relationship, another key theme in the project is the natural aging process. Dalkarl believes that portraying women of his mother’s age in art is exceptional, and he aims to challenge prevailing norms and age standards. Through his work, he not only captures personal and meaningful moments but also actively contributes to normalizing and celebrating the representation of older women in art.

Kasper Dalkarl (b. 1991, Helsinki) explores storytelling, myths, and portraiture in his works, placing his subjects in natural environments and enlivening them with cinematic lighting and effects. Dalkarl graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography in 2017 and a master’s degree in fine arts in 2022 from Novia University of Applied Sciences. He has held solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions both in Finland and internationally.

The artist’s work and exhibition have been supported by the Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet, the Nygrén Foundation, and Konstsamfundet.

Kasper Dalkarl
Mother and Son
24 January–22 March 2025
Hippolyte Korjaamo (Töölönkatu 51 A-B, 00250 Helsinki)
Näyttely avoinna Korjaamon aukioloaikojen mukaisesti

image: Kasper Dalkarl, Sauna (Tribute to Dad), 2022