Norman Behrendt Explores the Legacy of the Past in Lithuania
For today’s Cameo we’re having 34 year-old German photographer Norman Behrendt sharing with us his new series Morning Has Not Dawned Yet. See here for all the photographers who previously made a cameo in Fotografia.
Ciao Norman, how are you?
Hi, I am good, thanks. Hope you too!
What is photography for you?
To me photography is a way to satisfy my hunger for life. I am driven to photograph by passion and curiosity at the same time. I understand photography as a means of appropriation, where I put myself in relation to the people, stories or objects of my desire. It is a language that helps me raise questions and formulate my ideas.
What is Morning Has Not Dawned Yet about?
Morning Has Not Dawned Yet is a visual exploration of the contemporary urban and rural landscape of Lithuania, especially of Kaunas and Vilnius. When I visited Lithuania in autumn last year for the first time I had no plans of starting a new photographic project. I got to exploring modern-day Lithuania by walking in its backyards, gardens, local restaurants and markets, and during these walks I had the feeling of a long awaited moment which was late to happen. Lithuania is in a moment of change: as the country faces a close future and seeks for economic growth, the past has become a burden. Despite the modernization process has already started, especially in places like the new city center of the capital Vilnius, the past is still visible in the wooden houses and hundreds Soviet-era apartment blocks found in the urban outskirts.
Where can you be found online?
You can find some of my previous work here.