Eyes as Big as Plates is an arresting photo series that draws inspiration from European folklore. An ongoing collaborative project between Riitta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth, who met during an artist residency, it began in Sandnes, Norway, with the help of local senior heroes including sailors, retired agronomes and 90-year old parachuters.
Moving to Finland in 2012, the Eyes as Big as Plates series began to focus on characters from Finnish folk tales. These depictions were "infused with the participating local seniors’ own stories and personal relationship to folklore, myths and imagination," as written on its website. Interacting with nature in unique and eccentric ways, the portraits are at once playful and serious.
The third part of the Eyes as Big as Plates series will be captured in New York City.
What's Driving This Trend
- Folklore-inspired Portraits
- This trend draws inspiration from local folklore and personal stories, creating an opportunity for collaboration between artists and seniors to create unique and meaningful portraits.
- Senior Hero Photography
- This trend highlights senior individuals in the community and their unique perspectives and experiences through photography, creating opportunities for intergenerational collaboration and storytelling.
- Naturalistic Artistic Expression
- This trend involves the integration of nature into artistic expression, creating an opportunity for environmental education and inspiration for future artistic projects.
Who This Affects Most
- Fine Art Photography
- The Eyes as Big as Plates series provides an opportunity for fine art photographers to expand their creative repertoire through unique collaborations with seniors and a focus on local folklore and nature.
- Senior Care Services
- The Eyes as Big as Plates series inspires opportunities for senior care services to promote intergenerational engagement and creative expression through storytelling and photography.
- Environmental Education and Conservation
- The naturalistic themes of the Eyes as Big as Plates series create an opportunity for environmental education and conservation through art, engaging the community in the importance of preserving nature and local folklore.
